A German father is facing charges of murder after allegedly killing his crippled son, who was six years old, and then fabricating an alibi that he had been knocked unconscious by thieves.

The corpse of Leon, who drowned, was subsequently discovered by officers in the Kitzbuheler Ache river.

The corpse of Leon, who had drowned, was subsequently discovered by officers in the Kitzbuheler Ache river (shown).

According to local media, an unidentified individual saw Apler motionless and next to an overturned pram at about 5 in the morning, one hour before the corpse of Leon was discovered in the river by law enforcement.

Apler, who had emigrated to Austria with his wife Sandra from Germany, informed the authorities that his kid had either fallen from his buggy or been tossed into the river by his assailant.

Local media reports that at about 5 in the morning, before authorities discovered Leon’s corpse in the river, a passerby saw Apler, who seemed comatose, next to an overturned pram.