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Cleveland abductor Ariel Castro to be sentenced Cleveland abductor Ariel Castro being sentenced
(35 minutes later)
One of three women imprisoned in an Ohio home for about a decade has told their captor he will "face hell for eternity", as he is sentenced.One of three women imprisoned in an Ohio home for about a decade has told their captor he will "face hell for eternity", as he is sentenced.
Michelle Knight, 32, wept as she delivered her victim impact statement before Ariel Castro.Michelle Knight, 32, wept as she delivered her victim impact statement before Ariel Castro.
The court also heard how the 53-year-old former school bus driver played Russian roulette with his victims and kept them chained up. The 53-year-old former school bus driver told the court he was not a monster, but was addicted to sex.
Castro, who is also expected to speak, faces a life term plus 1,000 years. The court also heard he played Russian roulette with his victims, kept them chained up and repeatedly raped them.
Castro, who pleaded guilty last week to 937 criminal charges under a plea deal to spare him the death penalty, faces a life term plus 1,000 years.
The captives, Ms Knight, 32, Amanda Berry, 27, and Gina DeJesus, 23, were rescued in May after one of them escaped from the Cleveland home.The captives, Ms Knight, 32, Amanda Berry, 27, and Gina DeJesus, 23, were rescued in May after one of them escaped from the Cleveland home.
'You saved us' 'Happy person inside'
In her statement at Thursday's hearing, Ms Knight told how Castro went to church every Sunday, before coming home to "torture" the women. In her statement on Thursday, Ms Knight told how Castro went to church every Sunday, before coming home to "torture" the women.
"I spent 11 years in hell. Now your hell is just beginning," she said. "You will face hell for eternity." "I spent 11 years in hell. Now your hell is just beginning," she said. "You will face hell for eternity.
"From this moment on, I will not let you define me, or affect who I am. I will live on, you will die a little every day."
She was the only victim to speak at the hearing.
Castro then stood up to address the court.
"I believe I am addicted to porn to the point that it really makes me impulsive and I just don't realise what I'm doing is wrong," he said.
The former bandsman continued: "To be a musician and to be a monster like you're trying to say that I am - I don't think I can handle that - I'm a happy person inside."
He told the court that he had been "driven by sex", adding: "I'm not a violent predator… I'm not a monster, I'm a normal person.
"I'm just sick. I have an addiction, just like an alcoholic has an addiction."
He said he never planned to abduct the women, but acted on the spur of the moment when he kidnapped his first victim.
Castro also apologised to his victims, saying he was "truly sorry".
The hearing earlier heard testimony from policewoman Barbara Johnson, one of the officers who found the women.The hearing earlier heard testimony from policewoman Barbara Johnson, one of the officers who found the women.
She said that as she and another officer searched the darkened house, she shined a flashlight on herself so the women could see they were really police. She said that as she and another officer searched the darkened house, she shone 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.Ms Knight "literally launched herself" into another officer's arms, Ms Johnson said.
"And she just kept repeating, 'you saved us, you saved us,'" the policewoman told the court."And she just kept repeating, 'you saved us, you saved us,'" the policewoman told the court.
But Ms DeJesus was initially too afraid to leave her room, she added.But Ms DeJesus was initially too afraid to leave her room, she added.
One investigator said there had been large amounts of chains in the house, which had been used to restrain the women.One investigator said there had been large amounts of chains in the house, which had been used to restrain the women.
An FBI agent told the sentencing hearing the house's bedroom windows had been boarded shut from the inside, and locks were placed on the outside of the doors.An FBI agent told the sentencing hearing the house's bedroom windows had been boarded shut from the inside, and locks were placed on the outside of the doors.
Special Agent Andrew Burke also said that Castro had attempted to explain his actions in a letter. Special Agent Andrew Burke also said that Castro had attempted to explain his actions in a letter, found in his home and titled "Confession and Details".
Mr Burke said the note by Castro had included the comment: "I am a sexual predator". Mr Burke said the letter by Castro had included the comment: "I am a sexual predator".
The agent also testified that Castro would sometimes give his victims money after raping them. Then he would require them to pay him back if they wanted items from a store.The agent also testified that Castro would sometimes give his victims money after raping them. Then he would require them to pay him back if they wanted items from a store.
In a sentencing memorandum filed on Wednesday, prosecutor Tim McGinty said Castro "admits his disgusting and inhuman conduct", but "remains remorseless".
Prosecutors have said they relied on diaries kept by the women during their lengthy captivity for many of the 937 criminal charges Castro admitted.
Promise of a puppyPromise of a puppy
He abducted the three between 2002-04.He abducted the three between 2002-04.
He tricked one of them into his home with the promise of a puppy, and enticed another by inviting her to meet his daughter.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.
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.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.
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".