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June 13, 2013

Cleveland Kidnapping Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to All Charges 
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The suspect in the kidnapping and capture of three Cleveland women has
pleaded not guilty to all charges. Amanda Berry, Gina De Jesus and
Michele Knight were freed last month after Berry managed to alert a
neighbor. Berry's six-year-old daughter, who was born in captivity, was
also rescued. On Wednesday, suspect Ariel Castro entered pleas of not
guilty to all 329 charges he faces. They include two counts of
aggravated murder for allegedly forcing Knight to miscarry through
beatings and starvation. After the hearing, defense attorney Craig
Weintraub admitted some charges are not in doubt.

Craig Weintraub: "The arraignment marks the first step in the formal
legal process. Although certain charges in the indictment cannot be
disputed, a not guilty plea at this stage requires the prosecutor to
continue to evaluate their case and determine whether medical and
forensic evidence can actually support an aggravated murder conviction
for the death of a fetus and whether the death penalty is warranted."

 

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