Life plus 1,000 years for ‘monster’ Castro

Convicted US kidnapper and rapist Ariel Castro told a court Thursday, he had captured and tormented 3 young women because he was addicted to sex. Catro pleaded, “I’m not a monster. I’m sick.” Castro pleaded guilty to 977 charges related to his victims’ brutal decade-long ordeal, including many rapes and the murder of a fetus by beating up its mother. 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. Judge Michael Russo was unimpressed, pointing out that Castro had admitted to the violent crimes. “You pled guilty to that and by virtue of your plea, when you rape someone, that’s what it means.” One of his 3 victims, 32-year-old Michelle Knight testified about her ordeal of beatings and rapes. Investigators also images of the chains in which the women were held.

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