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Cleveland kidnap suspect Ariel Castro charged with kidnapping and rape — but he may face the death penalty on more counts
Cowardly Castro can't even make eye contact as he's is accused of 'snatching' three women off the streets of Cleveland and keeping them trapped inside his house of horrors. He appeared dour and downcast Thursday in court for his arraignment.
Comments (70)BY RICH SCHAPIRO IN CLEVELAND AND LARRY MCSHANE / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
PUBLISHED: THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013, 9:04 AM
UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013, 5:15 PM
JOHN GRESS/REUTERS
Ariel Castro was arraigned at the Cleveland Municipal Court Thursday on four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape. But the Cuyahoga County prosecutor said he may add charges to subject Castro to the death penalty.
The Cleveland man accused of turning three female hostages into his sex slaves could face the death penalty for his decade-long depravity.
The announcement from Cuyahoga County chief prosecutor Timothy McGinty came hours afterAriel Castro, 52, was ordered held Thursday on $8 million bail in the lurid case.
Castro — already charged with kidnapping and rape — could face new charges of aggravated murder for beating his victims until they had miscarriages, officials said.
McGinty promised Castro would face charges for every act of rape, assault and any other crime committed inside the house of horrors on Seymour Ave.
“This child kidnapper operated a torture chamber and private prison in the heart of our city.” said McGinty, who took no questions.
“The horrific brutality and torture that the victims endured for a decade is beyond comprehension.”
The cowardly Castro stared at the ground and bit his shirt collar as he was arraigned in Cleveland Municipal Court. The judge set his bail at a staggering $8 million.
“The charges against Mr. Castro are based on a premeditated and depraved decision to snatch the three young ladies ... to be used in whatever self-gratifying, self-satisfying way he saw fit,” prosecutor Brian Murphy said.
“When in captivity, they withstood repeated debasing,” Murphy said. “They were bound and restrained and actually assaulted, basically never free to leave this residence.”
Officials said the helpless victims were kept bound with ropes and chains by their captor, who was accused of repeatedly raping his hostages.
The five-minute hearing ended with Castro, wearing navy blue prison clothes and tan slippers, returned to his cell after the seven-figure bail was set.
Castro, who stood mutely during the hearing, faces four kidnapping counts: One for each of the three women abducted off Cleveland streets, and a fourth for imprisoning the daughter born in captivity to victim Amanda Berry.
Castro is likely the now 6-year-old girl’s father, although a paternity test is pending. He is also charged with three counts of rape.
Castro’s adult daughter, Arlene, speaking shortly before his courtroom cameo, offered an apology to victim Gina DeJesus. The two were high school best friends, and were together on the day of DeJesus’s kidnapping.
“I am absolutely so, so sorry,” said Arlene Castro, 22, fighting back tears on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“I really want to see Gina and I want (her) to meet my kids. I’m so sorry for everything.”
The Indiana resident said she was “devastated about this whole situation.” Her last conversation with Ariel Castro came late late month, and Arlene said she was never very close with the accused monster.
“Every time we would talk it would just be short conversations, just a ‘Hello, how are you doing and let me know if you need anything’ — and that was it,” she said.
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Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/8-million-bail-cleveland-kidnap-suspect-article-1.1339100#ixzz2SpqpdRfm
McGinty promised Castro would face charges for every act of rape, assault and any other crime committed inside the house of horrors on Seymour Ave.
“This child kidnapper operated a torture chamber and private prison in the heart of our city.” said McGinty, who took no questions.
woohhoo charge him with an indefinite number of murder charges, tie a rope around his neck and let him swing!
From what I have heard, the girls themselves said that only the one brother ever did anything to them, and he is the only one they ever saw. Since they have no reason to lie, I would think that's why the prosecutor dropped the charges.
Also, since you were speaking about accomplice liability and wondering why they haven't been charged as accomplices, here are the requirements:
1) Intent: The accomplice must have intended that the “target crime” be in fact committed up to completion
2) Scope of Liability: The accomplice will be guilty of the target crime, as well as any other foreseeable crimes that may be committed during the commission of the target crime
Based on what the girls have said, neither of the released brothers even comes close to that.