Lawyer for accused kidnapper hints that trial could be avoided

Lawyers for the man accused of holding three women captive for a decade in Ohio is hinting that a trial can be avoided.

His defence suggests they could strike a plea deal - if Castro's guaranteed to escape the death penalty.

52-year-old Ariel Castro pleaded not guilty to 329 charges at a hearing earlier.

Defence lawyer, Craig Weintraub, said that he wants to avoid a trial because of the emotional stress it would cause.

"Mr Castro currently faces hundreds of years in prison with the current charges and it is our hope that we could continue to work towards a resolution," he said.