Ariel Castro Declared Mentally Competent to Stand Trial

a02-ariel-castro-08-4_3_rx383_c540x380.jpg

UPDATE: Ariel Castro has been declared competent to stand trial. He is mentally capable of understanding the charges brought against him, a judge declared this morning.

The 52-year-old asked the judge this morning to readdress the issue of seeing Amanda Berry's 6-year-old daughter. The judge rejected Castro's request, calling it "inappropriate."

The State of Ohio’s Capital Punishment Committee will meet on July 11 to review Castro’s case.

The next pretrial is scheduled for July 24 at 8:45 a.m.

****

Accused kidnapper and rapist Ariel Castro returns to court this morning. The results of his competency test will be unveiled in today's hearing.

Castro was evaluated by the Court Psychiatric Clinic inside the Justice Center after a judge ordered a competency evaluation last week. The judge ordered the test because he wants to make sure Castro fully comprehends his charges.

Castro is accused of kidnapping three women, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight, and holding them captive in his Seymour Avenue home for a decade.

He faces nearly 330 charges.

Castro is jailed on $8 million.

19 Action News is live streaming Castro's court appearance. Watch here.

Like this story?
SCENE Supporters make it possible to tell the Cleveland stories you won’t find elsewhere.
Become a supporter today.

Alaina Nutile

Alaina Nutile is the Web Editor who oversees all digital content and social media initiatives for Cleveland Scene Magazine and Detroit Metro Times. Before joining the staff in June 2013, she interned at Business Insider in New York City, and at La Hora in Quito, Ecuador. Alaina is a graduate of Kalamazoo College...
Scroll to read more Cleveland News articles

Join Cleveland Scene Newsletters

Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox.