Castro accepts life without parole for kidnappings
July 27, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
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THE man accused of holding three women captive in his home in Cleveland Ohio for around a decade agreed to plead guilty yesterday in a deal to avoid the death penalty.
In exchange, Ariel Castro would be sentenced to life without parole plus 1,000 years, prosecutors said.
Castro was in court yesterday morning to enter the guilty plea. When asked if he understood he would never be released from prison, Castro said: "I do understand that, your honor."
He added, "I knew I was pretty much going to get the book thrown at me."
The deal comes more than a month after a statement issued on behalf of the women said they were "hopeful for a just and prompt resolution" and had "great faith in the prosecutor's office and the court."
Castro, 53, had been scheduled for trial on August 5 on a 977-count indictment. The indictment included two counts of aggravated murder related to accusations that he punched and starved one woman until she miscarried. The former school bus driver also was charged with hundreds of counts of kidnapping and rape, plus assault and other counts.
He was accused of repeatedly restraining the women. The charges alleged Castro assaulted one woman with a vacuum cord around her neck when she tried to escape.
The sticking point on a plea deal had been whether the prosecutor would rule out the death penalty. The Cuyahoga County prosecutor had kept that issue under review.
The three women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16 and 20 years old. Each said they had accepted a ride from Castro, who remained friends with the family of one of the women and even attended vigils for her.
The women escaped Castro's house May 6 when one kicked out part of a door. Castro was arrested within hours and has remained behind bars since.
News that Amanda Berry, Gina Dejesus and Michelle Knight had been found alive electrified the Cleveland area. But elation turned to shock as allegations about their treatment emerged.
Castro fathered a six-year-old daughter with Berry, authorities said. Knight said her five pregnancies ended after Castro starved and punched her.
In exchange, Ariel Castro would be sentenced to life without parole plus 1,000 years, prosecutors said.
Castro was in court yesterday morning to enter the guilty plea. When asked if he understood he would never be released from prison, Castro said: "I do understand that, your honor."
He added, "I knew I was pretty much going to get the book thrown at me."
The deal comes more than a month after a statement issued on behalf of the women said they were "hopeful for a just and prompt resolution" and had "great faith in the prosecutor's office and the court."
Castro, 53, had been scheduled for trial on August 5 on a 977-count indictment. The indictment included two counts of aggravated murder related to accusations that he punched and starved one woman until she miscarried. The former school bus driver also was charged with hundreds of counts of kidnapping and rape, plus assault and other counts.
He was accused of repeatedly restraining the women. The charges alleged Castro assaulted one woman with a vacuum cord around her neck when she tried to escape.
The sticking point on a plea deal had been whether the prosecutor would rule out the death penalty. The Cuyahoga County prosecutor had kept that issue under review.
The three women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16 and 20 years old. Each said they had accepted a ride from Castro, who remained friends with the family of one of the women and even attended vigils for her.
The women escaped Castro's house May 6 when one kicked out part of a door. Castro was arrested within hours and has remained behind bars since.
News that Amanda Berry, Gina Dejesus and Michelle Knight had been found alive electrified the Cleveland area. But elation turned to shock as allegations about their treatment emerged.
Castro fathered a six-year-old daughter with Berry, authorities said. Knight said her five pregnancies ended after Castro starved and punched her.
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