This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23534845

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Cleveland abductor Ariel Castro being 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 53-year-old former school bus driver told the court he was not a monster, but was addicted to sex.The 53-year-old former school bus driver told the court he was not a monster, but was addicted to sex.
The court also heard he played Russian roulette with his victims, kept them chained up and repeatedly raped them.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. Castro was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
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.
'Happy person inside''Happy person inside'
In her statement on Thursday, 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.""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.She was the only victim to speak at the hearing.
Castro then stood up to address the court. Castro then made a rambling statement to the court in which he blamed his sex addiction, his former wife and the FBI for not properly investigating the kidnappings.
"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."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."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.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.""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.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". While claiming that most of the sex with his victims had been "consensual", Castro turned to their families and to Ms Knight to say he was "truly sorry".
"I just hope they find it in their hearts to forgive me," he added.
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 shone 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 manacles 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. One woman was forced to wear a motorcycle helmet while chained in the basement. After she tried to escape, she was almost garrotted with a vacuum cord.
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". The victims were also chained to a bedroom heater or inside a van.
Mr Burke said the letter by Castro had included the comment: "I am a sexual predator". An FBI agent told the hearing the house's bedroom windows had been boarded shut from the inside, and locks were placed on the outside of the doors.
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. Special Agent Andrew Burke 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.
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.