Cleveland kidnapper pleads not guilty to avoid death penalty

Ariel Castro

Ariel Castro, who was accused for kidnapping Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, and held them for a  decade at his home in Cleveland (Ohio, United States), pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him for abduction and rape.

During the hearing, Castro of 52 years old, was crestfallen, and not uttered any word, his defense attorney, Jaye Schlachet, was the one to issue the statement of not guilty on his behalf.

“I know that the media want to go out and give its conclusions and that all the people in the community want to say terrible things about the person who is accused,” said Schlachet, according to the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

The jury accused Castro of two counts of aggravated murder for having forced one of the captive young women to abort, as well as 139 rape allegations, 177 of kidnapping, 7 of sexual abuse, three of felonious assault and one for criminal weapons possession.

The Prosecutor’s Office said that they will continue with the investigations, and left the door open to the possibility of seeking the death penalty for Castro, once a Special Committee is assign to review the case.

However, the defense of Castro hinted that the accused wants to avoid trial by negotiating an agreement of admission of guilt with the Prosecutor’s Office only if  the the death penalty is discarded.