This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/15/ariel-castro-attorneys-kidnap-not-guilty
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ariel Castro attorneys say Cleveland kidnap suspect will plead not guilty | Ariel Castro attorneys say Cleveland kidnap suspect will plead not guilty |
| (4 months later) | |
| The man accused of keeping three women in captivity in his Ohio home for about a decade will plead not guilty, a member of his defence team said on Wednesday. | The man accused of keeping three women in captivity in his Ohio home for about a decade will plead not guilty, a member of his defence team said on Wednesday. |
| Craig Weintraub, a former prosecutor representing Ariel Castro, 52, on rape and kidnapping charges, said in an interview he was concerned his client would not be able to receive a fair trial anywhere, given the publicity surrounding the case. | Craig Weintraub, a former prosecutor representing Ariel Castro, 52, on rape and kidnapping charges, said in an interview he was concerned his client would not be able to receive a fair trial anywhere, given the publicity surrounding the case. |
| The location of a trial is "always an issue when you have a case that has such fantastic notoriety," Weintraub said. | The location of a trial is "always an issue when you have a case that has such fantastic notoriety," Weintraub said. |
| Castro, a former school bus driver, was arrested on 6 May, shortly after one of the women, Amanda Berry, kicked out part of a locked door of his Cleveland house and yelled to neighbours to help her and call police. | Castro, a former school bus driver, was arrested on 6 May, shortly after one of the women, Amanda Berry, kicked out part of a locked door of his Cleveland house and yelled to neighbours to help her and call police. |
| Police quickly arrived and found Berry in the street holding a baby and then raced through the house, freeing Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. The women were admitted to a hospital but have been released and have remained in seclusion appealing for privacy. | Police quickly arrived and found Berry in the street holding a baby and then raced through the house, freeing Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. The women were admitted to a hospital but have been released and have remained in seclusion appealing for privacy. |
| The three disappeared between 2002 and 2004, when they were in their teens or early 20s, authorities said. | The three disappeared between 2002 and 2004, when they were in their teens or early 20s, authorities said. |
| Castro's defence team must decide at some point whether to ask to have any trial moved out of Cleveland, Weintraub said. | Castro's defence team must decide at some point whether to ask to have any trial moved out of Cleveland, Weintraub said. |
| "Then that begs the question: 'Well, where can he get a fair trial based on the circumstances?' This is such a sensationalistic type case which has received international coverage." | "Then that begs the question: 'Well, where can he get a fair trial based on the circumstances?' This is such a sensationalistic type case which has received international coverage." |
| Castro has been jailed on an $8m (£5.25m) bond. | Castro has been jailed on an $8m (£5.25m) bond. |
| Weintraub said Castro is despondent in his bare-bones cell – but Weintraub thinks people believe he's got it too good under the circumstances. "His day consists of remaining 24 hours a day in a room … that contains a metal bed, a very thin mattress that is covered in plastic. It has a metal sink and what appears to be some sort of a mirror," Weintraub said. | Weintraub said Castro is despondent in his bare-bones cell – but Weintraub thinks people believe he's got it too good under the circumstances. "His day consists of remaining 24 hours a day in a room … that contains a metal bed, a very thin mattress that is covered in plastic. It has a metal sink and what appears to be some sort of a mirror," Weintraub said. |
| He declined to comment on a jail suicide watch for Castro or jail guard reports that Castro has been sitting in his cell naked. Weintraub said he would have been alerted if going naked reflected a medical issue. | He declined to comment on a jail suicide watch for Castro or jail guard reports that Castro has been sitting in his cell naked. Weintraub said he would have been alerted if going naked reflected a medical issue. |
| Castro has made it clear that he loves his 6-year-old daughter born to Berry, Weintraub said. | Castro has made it clear that he loves his 6-year-old daughter born to Berry, Weintraub said. |
| "I know that that seems to be irrational from the public perception standpoint, but he does indeed love her and is concerned about her future," Weintraub said. | "I know that that seems to be irrational from the public perception standpoint, but he does indeed love her and is concerned about her future," Weintraub said. |
| He said the issue of custody hadn't been mentioned in discussions with Castro. The girl was born on Christmas Day 2006, delivered by Knight in a paddling pool so the cleanup would be easy, police say. Knight told police she was ordered by Castro under threat of death to deliver the baby live. | He said the issue of custody hadn't been mentioned in discussions with Castro. The girl was born on Christmas Day 2006, delivered by Knight in a paddling pool so the cleanup would be easy, police say. Knight told police she was ordered by Castro under threat of death to deliver the baby live. |
| Weintraub said the defence hadn't researched issues raised last week when prosecutor Tim McGinty said Castro could face aggravated murder charges, and a possible death sentence, related to allegations that he impregnated Knight and forced her to miscarry at least five times by starving her and punching her in the stomach repeatedly. | Weintraub said the defence hadn't researched issues raised last week when prosecutor Tim McGinty said Castro could face aggravated murder charges, and a possible death sentence, related to allegations that he impregnated Knight and forced her to miscarry at least five times by starving her and punching her in the stomach repeatedly. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |