Accused Kidnapper And Rapist Ariel Castro Pleads Not Guilty
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Cuyahoga County Jail where Castro is being held (Creative Commons)
Castro, 52, is accused of kidnapping, raping and holding captive for over a decade Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, who were all teenagers at the time of their disappearances.
Castro faces 329 separate crimes, including two aggravated murder charges for “purposely and with prior calculation and design causing the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy," County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said in a statement last week.
If found guilty Castro could face the death penalty.
In response to Castro’s not guilty plea, Jim Wooley, the attorney representing the three women, released a statement on behalf of his clients.
“We understand the legal process needs to run its course,” Wooley said. “We are hopeful for a just and prompt resolution. We have great faith in the prosecutor’s office and the court.”
From The Cleveland Plain Dealer:
After the hearing, attorney Craig Weintraub, who also is representing Castro, said some of the charges against Castro "cannot be disputed," but that Castro needed to plead not guilty for the process to proceed.
Weintraub said the defense team is seeking a resolution that would eliminate the need for a trial. But that would likely require prosecutors to drop the aggravated murder charges and the possibility of a death sentence.
"We are very sensitive to the emotional strain and the impact that a trial would have on the women, their families and this community," he said.
The indictment only covers the period of August 2002 to February 2007, and additional charges could be forthcoming.
Castro is currently being held at the Cuyahoga County Jail in isolation on an $8 million bond.
Read the full story here.
