Ariel Castro is facing up to 1,000 charges against Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight, including two counts of aggravated murder related to accusations he punched and starved Knight until she miscarried.
The three Ohio women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16 and 20 years old, having accepted a lift with from Castro.
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Prosecutors and lawyers in the case have now signalled that they are negotiating a plea bargain.
In a hearing focusing on the upcoming trial date, judge Michael Russo asked:
"My understanding is that the parties have discussed possible pleas and that you're working to see if that would be an effective resolution, is that correct?"
Both sides of the party simply responded "yes", and left the courtroom without further comment.
‘We're in the middle of plea negotiating, that's where we're at,’ defence attorney Jaye Schlachet confirmed.
‘Plea negotiations have been undertaken which, when there's plea offers and like any other negotiations, there's offers, there's negotiations, there's acceptance of offers, things of that sort.’
53-year-old Castro also fathered a child, now 6, with Amanda Berry, who he was denied access to when he requested visitation rights earlier this month.
The trial is due to take place on the 5 August.