‘I’m not a monster. I’m sick.’: US kidnapper Castro

CHICAGO, USA – Convicted US kidnapper and rapist Ariel Castro told a court on Thursday, August 1, he had captured and tormented 3 young women because he was addicted to sex.

“I’m not a monster. I’m sick,” the 53-year-old Cleveland man pleaded, making a statement at a sentencing hearing where he was to be jailed for the rest of his life.

Despite having pleaded guilty to 977 charges related to his victims’ brutal decade-long ordeal, including many rapes and the murder of a fetus through beating its mother, Castro said he was not a violent man.

Castro claimed that he had himself been sexually abused as a child and had grown up obsessed with sex, addicted to pornography and a compulsive masturbator.

He said he had not plotted the 3 kidnaps, but had acted on impulse.

“I am not a monster. I am a normal person. I am just sick. I have an addiction just like an alcoholic has an addiction,” he said.

“Alcoholics cannot control their addiction. That’s what I can’t control my addiction, your honor. Most of the sex that went on in that house, practically all of it was consensual.

“These allegations about being forceful on them, that is totally wrong,” he said.

Earlier one of his 3 victims, 32-year-old Michelle Knight, had recounted a quite different ordeal of beatings and rapes, while investigators had shown images of the chains in which the women were held.

Judge Michael Russo was unimpressed, pointing out that Castro had admitted to violent crimes.

“You pled guilty to that and by virtue of your plea, when you rape someone, that’s what it means,” he said. – Rappler.com