New York: Ex-model found guilty of murdering and castrating gay TV presenter

Dec 24 2012
Written by Scott Roberts

A Portuguese former underwear model has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after he was convicted of murdering and castrating a gay Portuguese TV presenter in New York.

Earlier this month, Renato Seabra, 23, was convicted of choking, bludgeoning and mutilating Carlos Castro.

The 65-year-old’s body was found in January 2011 at the InterContinental Hotel in Manhattan.

Prosecutors argued the two were a couple and Seabra was angry Castro had ended their relationship.

The defence said Seabra was mentally ill and claimed the ex-model believed he was on a mission to kill what he saw as the devil of homosexuality in Castro.

In October, the jury heard Seabra bludgeoned Castro with a computer monitor and wine bottle, and used a corkscrew to sever his lover’s testicles in a hotel room.

He then wore the testicles as a bracelet and even told doctors he had been drinking Castro’s blood following the frenzied attack.

The Associated Press reported that Seabra asked for forgiveness in court, saying through an interpreter that he didn’t know what came over him.