Source: Castro has been offered plea deal Ariel Castro attorneys signal plea deal Castro replied that he is good at spelling and reading but his comprehension is bad because "my addiction to pornography and my sexual problem has really taken a toll on my mind. Timeline: Three Cleveland girls go missing. An attorney for three women had told CNN that they were hoping for a plea deal because they did not want to take the stand at Castro's trial. The women want to remain private and don't want to speak to media or others, the statement said, but they're grateful for the support they've received from family and friends and the Cleveland Courage Fund , which has helped raise money for them.
Castro's defense attorneys had previously said they wanted a deal that would take capital punishment out of the equation. Castro was charged with counts, including aggravated murder on suspicion of ending the pregnancy of one of his captives. Under the deal, he agreed to plead guilty to counts. Russo told Castro that the deal would mean he would go to prison for life, plus at least 1, years. Earlier this month, the former bus driver had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the close of Friday's hearing, Russo remanded Castro back into custody, and set a sentencing date for August 1.
Castro abducted Knight, Berry and DeJesus separately in a two-year period starting in , according to authorities. Snapshots: Who are the three women? The women and Berry's 6-year-old daughter -- DNA tests have confirmed that Castro is the child's father -- were freed in May after one of the women shouted for help while Castro was away from his 1,square-foot home.
The cries for help were heard by neighbor Charles Ramsey, who was sitting down to eat. Read more: Charles Ramsey: I'm no hero. I've been in here a long time. Read more: Another person says he played key role. And I'm here, I'm free now. Under the plea deal, the house where the women were confined will be demolished, Russo said. Berry was last seen after finishing her shift at a Burger King in Cleveland in It was the eve of her 17th birthday. Knight vanished in , at age 21, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper.
Read more: Freed women reunite with families. In early July, Berry, DeJesus and Knight released a YouTube video offering their thanks to all those who have helped them since they were freed. Ariel Castro, 52, said nothing as he appeared briefly to be arraigned on counts, including of rape, of kidnap and two of aggravated murder. But the defence appeared to hint of a possible plea deal if prosecutors rule out the death penalty. The murder charges relate to Mr Castro allegedly starving and beating one pregnant captive until she miscarried.
Defence lawyer Craig Weintraub said after Wednesday's hearing: "Mr Castro currently faces hundreds of years in prison with the current charges. Castro is accused of repeatedly restraining the women, sometimes chaining them to a pole in a basement, to a bedroom heater or inside a van. The charges say one of the women tried to escape and he assaulted her with a vacuum cord around her neck. Amanda Berry, Gina Dejesus and Michelle Knight disappeared separately between and , when they were 14, 16 and 20 years old.
Each said they had accepted a ride from Castro, who remained friends with Dejesus' family and even attended vigils over the years marking her disappearance. This article is more than 8 years old. Ariel Castro stands accused on charges.
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