Ariel Castro, from the U.S state of Ohio responsible for kidnapping, raping and imprisoning three girls for over a decade, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.

 

　　Judge Michael Russo:

 

　　"The breadth of the - the scope of these crimes and the merciless manner in which they were inflicted requires that a maximum sentence on each of those counts be imposed."

 

　　The 53-year-old school bus driver has been sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years for aggravated murder and other charges related to kidnapping and rape.

 

　　The only victim to speak in court Michelle Knight, wept as she delivered her victim impact statement before Ariel Castro, telling her captor he would face "hell for eternity".

 

　　In court Castro apologized to the three victims and asked for their forgiveness:

 

　　"I would like to apologize to the victims. Do I do that now?"

 

　　Judge: "yes you may do that now"

 

　　Castro: "Do I do that at the end of the day?

 

　　Judge: "You can do it then too, this is your...part of your opportunity is to speak."

 

　　Castro: "I'll do it at the (unintelligible)."

 

　　The captives - 27 year old Amanda Berry, 23 year old Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight aged 32 were rescued in May from their Castro's home in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

　　The girls had been missing since between 2002 and 2004.