Cleveland prosecutors may seek death penalty for kidnap suspect Ariel Castro

[alp227]

Last edited Thu May 9, 2013, 11:56 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Guardian

Prosecutors in Ohio have said they may seek the death penalty in the case of the former school bus driver accused of the kidnap and rape of three women held prisoner at his home for years.

Ariel Castro, 52, made his first court appearance on Thursday when a judge set bond at $8m. The size of the bond means he is likely to remain in jail for some time. His court-appointed lawyer said he was unemployed and had little money.

At a news conference later, county prosecutor Timothy McGinty said that his office intends to pursue charges of kidnapping and sexual assault, as well as aggravated murder, which could carry the death penalty.

The aggravated murder charges would stem from the forced miscarriages that police say were suffered by one of the women at the hands of Castro, 52, who is accused of holding them captive at his house in west Cleveland. "The law of Ohio calls for the death penalty for those most depraved criminals who commit aggravated murder during the course of a kidnapping," McGinty said.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/09/cleveland-prosecutors-death-penalty-kidnapping-suspect

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On one hand, the death penalty threatens people whose prosecutions were questionable, such as Willie Manning, and has already claimed the innocent such as Cameron Todd Willingham. On the other, some people like Ariel are just DESERVING of it.

[cosmicone]

1. Not brothers ...

The other two brothers were released and they were not involved in the kidnapping and rapes.

[Tansy_Gold]

3. And it's errors like that

made in the heat of emotion, that are precisely why there should not be any death penalty, no matter how heinous the crime. Some may "deserve" it, but then there are the innocent, convicted sometimes by nothing more substantial than emotion.

[gopiscrap]

5. I fully agree!!!!

[pediatricmedic]

10. Agreed on the errors

The errors don't happen very often, but they do keep happening.

He needs an 8x8 solitary cell for the rest of his life anyway. Give him time to reflect on the evil he has done.

[christx30]

11. But nothing about

The DP is "heat of the moment". We don't do summery executions here. The brothers in this case were not in danger for their lives. They were questioned. They were found not involved, and released. The other guy will be questioned about every detail of his life. There is no question of his guilt, but there will most likely be a long trial. After the trial there will be the sentencing phase during which, again, every detail of this decade long crime will be discussed. And then, if he is sentenced to death, he will appeal for 10 or 15 years.
This guy isn't going anywhere any time soon.

[alp227]

6. Did his brothers know about the girls all this time? They were probably accomplices. n/t

[zerosumgame0005]

8. I haven't seen my brother for more then 2 years

does that mean anything he has done in those two years my fault as well?

[Tx4obama]

9. The two brothers did NOT know about the kidnapped women. Police released the brothers Tues night n/t

[secondvariety]

2. He deserves it.

The horror those girls went through is unimaginable.

[Merlot]

4. He deserves to spend the rest of his life in solitary confinement

Death is to easy for someone who doesn't value life.

[freshwest]

7. Alp, an awful lot more has come out about this case, see these links:

'Happy abduction day': Cleveland victims reveal how Ariel Castro 'gave them cakes to celebrate anniversaries of being kidnapped' New report details the shocking life the women endured in Cleveland home

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2321647/Cleveland-victims-Ariel-Castro-gave-cakes-celebrate-kidnap-anniversaries.html?ICO=most_read_module

EXCLUSIVE PICTURES INSIDE THE CLEVELAND KIDNAP HOUSE: Son of 'abductor' reveals how father padlocked doors to basement, attic and garage because 'we weren't allowed to go there'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2320902/Ariel-Castro-Son-abductor-reveals-father-padlocked-doors-basement-attic-garage-places-werent-allowed-go.html?ICO=most_read_module

Ariel Castro claims he was abused by his parents as a child and raped by an uncle in 'confession' letter found in his home

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2321725/Ariel-Castro-2004-letter-captives--wanted-kill-himself.html?ICO=most_read_module

Every new revelation is worse.

[davidpdx]

12. The prosecutor added charges

Saying he was going to add a charge for every day in captivity, every sexual assault, every act of violence, and every death of an unborn child.

That could mean possibly thousands of charges. I have to wonder if that will make the case too complex and that he should instead focus on the most serious changes (sexual assaults, acts of violence, kidnapping (which is also a Federal offense), and the unborn children.

[alp227]

13. Yikes, I wonder how long the jury would take to deliberate on the 1,000+ charges? n/t

[davidpdx]

14. It could be a long trial

For the sake of the victims I hope it is over quickly.