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Cleveland abductor Ariel Castro to be sentenced Cleveland abductor Ariel Castro to be sentenced
(about 1 hour later)
A sentencing hearing has begun for a former school bus driver from Ohio who imprisoned three women in his home, subjecting them to years of abuse. A court is hearing disturbing details of the ordeals suffered by three women imprisoned in an Ohio home for about a decade, as their captor is sentenced.
Ariel Castro faces life in prison plus 1,000 years. He is expected to address the court. The court heard that Ariel Castro, 53, played Russian roulette with his victims with a loaded gun, and kept them chained up.
On the eve of the hearing, a prosecutor said the 53-year-old "admits his disgusting and inhuman conduct", but "remains remorseless". One of the victims threw herself into the arms of police as they were rescued, the court also heard.
He faces life in prison plus 1,000 years.
His double life was exposed in May after one of the women escaped.His double life was exposed in May after one of the women escaped.
'Dreams of escape''Dreams of escape'
On Thursday, Cleveland policewoman Barbara Johnson, one of the officers who rescued the women, told the court of their shock and relief.
Cleveland police officer Barbara Johnson said as she and another officer searched the darkened house, she shined a flashlight on herself so the women could see they were really police.
Ms Knight "literally launched herself" into another officer's arms, Ms Johnson said.
"And she just kept repeating: 'You saved us, you saved us.'"
Gina DeJesus was initially too afraid to leave her room, she added.
On Wednesday night, Castro's sister, Marisol Alicea, told CNN that the sentencing would show "the other side of Ariel Castro... not the monster that everyone thinks he is".On Wednesday night, Castro's sister, Marisol Alicea, told CNN that the sentencing would show "the other side of Ariel Castro... not the monster that everyone thinks he is".
However, she said she was not trying to defend his conduct.However, she said she was not trying to defend his conduct.
In a sentencing memorandum filed on Wednesday, prosecutor Tim McGinty shed further light on the ordeal suffered by the three women: Michelle Knight, 32, Amanda Berry, 27, and Gina DeJesus, 23.In a sentencing memorandum filed on Wednesday, prosecutor Tim McGinty shed further light on the ordeal suffered by the three women: Michelle Knight, 32, Amanda Berry, 27, and Gina DeJesus, 23.
He said Castro had chained his captives by their ankles at his home in the city of Cleveland, feeding them just one meal a day, while subjecting them to physical, sexual and psychological violence. He said Castro "admits his disgusting and inhuman conduct", but "remains remorseless".
Mr McGinty said Castro had chained his captives by their ankles at his home in the city of Cleveland, feeding them just one meal a day, while subjecting them to physical, sexual and psychological violence.
Castro also threatened to kill them and at one point locked all of them in a vehicle in his garage for three days while he had a visitor, said the prosecutor.Castro also threatened to kill them and at one point locked all of them in a vehicle in his garage for three days while he had a visitor, said the prosecutor.
"The entries speak of forced sexual conduct, of being locked in a dark room, of anticipating the next session of abuse, of the dreams of someday escaping and being reunited with family, of being chained to a wall, of being held like a prisoner of war... of being treated like an animal," said the memorandum."The entries speak of forced sexual conduct, of being locked in a dark room, of anticipating the next session of abuse, of the dreams of someday escaping and being reunited with family, of being chained to a wall, of being held like a prisoner of war... of being treated like an animal," said the memorandum.
Prosecutors have said they relied on diaries kept by the women during their lengthy captivity for many of the 977 criminal charges lodged against Castro.
Promise of a puppyPromise of a puppy
Castro abducted the women between 2002-04.Castro abducted the women between 2002-04.
According to Mr McGinty, he tricked one of them into his home with the promise of a puppy, and enticed another by inviting her to meet his daughter.According to Mr McGinty, he tricked one of them into his home with the promise of a puppy, and enticed another by inviting her to meet his daughter.
Prosecutors will ask the judge to ban Castro from ever seeing his daughter, now six years old, whom he fathered with one of the captives.Prosecutors will ask the judge to ban Castro from ever seeing his daughter, now six years old, whom he fathered with one of the captives.
Other details of the women's ordeals have already emerged.Other details of the women's ordeals have already emerged.
Castro starved and beat one victim each time she was pregnant until she miscarried five times.Castro starved and beat one victim each time she was pregnant until she miscarried five times.
He forced the same woman on threat of death to safely deliver the child he fathered with another victim on Christmas Day 2006.He forced the same woman on threat of death to safely deliver the child he fathered with another victim on Christmas Day 2006.
He then raped the woman who had helped deliver his daughter.He then raped the woman who had helped deliver his daughter.
Castro also garrotted one of the women with a vacuum cord after catching her trying to escape. There are plans to demolish the house where the three were held. They were rescued after Ms Berry kicked open a door and alerted a neighbour.
The judge said there were plans to demolish the house where the three were held. They were rescued after Ms Berry kicked open a door and alerted a neighbour.
Castro pleaded guilty last week under a plea deal to spare him the death penalty.Castro pleaded guilty last week under a plea deal to spare him the death penalty.
At that hearing, he told the judge he had been abused as a child, adding that his mental health had been affected by an "addiction to pornography".At that hearing, he told the judge he had been abused as a child, adding that his mental health had been affected by an "addiction to pornography".