Two young boys testified Friday in the trial of their father, a Virginia CEO accused of killing the boys’ mother and making it look like a suicide.
Michelle Castillo, a mother of five children, was found hanging in a basement shower in an Ashburn home March 20, 2014. She and her husband, Braulio Castillo, were in the middle of a bitter divorce, and he was barred from the home.
Because of his age, 8-year-old Zack Castillo testified via closed circuit television from a smaller courtroom. He told the prosecutor he saw his father the night before he woke up to find his mom missing. He said he initially was sleeping in his mom’s bed until she told him to move. He then went to sleep with his older brother Jonathan but left his special blanket behind. He testified he saw his dad bring the blanket into his brother’s room during the night.
During cross examination, the boy contradicted his testimony about seeing his father that night, but the prosecution got him to reaffirm that he had.
Braulio Castillo broke into tears, wiping his eyes.
With 11-year-old Jonathan, prosecutors focused on questions his dad asked him about the home’s security system. He testified his father asked if there was a security camera. He also testified his father asked for the alarm system numbers in exchange for a gold coin.
Defense attorneys spotlighted many inconsistencies between statements Jonathan made previously and what he testified to Friday.
