Man beats women to death for being 'witches'

A New York man who allegedly beat his girlfriend and her daughter to death with a hammer has told police he killed them because he thought they were witches.

Carlos Alberto Amarillo, 44, called police at about 12.10am on Wednesday to report the alleged murders, the New York Post reports.

Police found the beaten bodies of Estrella Castaneda, 56, and her daughter Lina Castaneda, 25, at their Queens home shortly after.

Lina Castaneda's seven-year-old daughter was located in one of the bedrooms suffering head injuries.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said the suspect told police during the 911 call to hurry because the two women had been assassinated.

"I killed them because they are witches," Amarillo said.

"I killed them with a hammer."

He was charged with two counts of first and second degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

Neighbour, Camilo Alvarez, said he heard loud hammering around midnight.

"I didn't hear anybody screaming. About 15 to 20 minutes later the police came and arrested someone in the front yard," he said.

"I can't imagine what they went through. I've been up all night, I couldn't sleep."

Source: New York Post
Author: Emily Crane, Approving editor: Nick Pearson