Jose Rafael “Rafa” Solano Landaeta, left, admittedly beheaded Karina Castro, right, with a samurai sword in September 2022. He claims the killing was in self-defense. Images via screengrab/KGO-TV.
A California man learned his fate this week for the samurai sword beheading of the mother of his child in the middle of a street.
Jose Rafael “Rafa” Solano Landaeta, 34, was sentenced on Tuesday to 26 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the Sept. 8, 2022, killing of Karina Castro, 27.
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Castro’s grandmother called Landaeta a “monster,” “the worst kind of evil,” the Bay Area’s KRON reported.
The victim’s father, Martin Castro Jr., said the punishment wasn’t enough, NBC Bay Area affiliate KNTV reported.
“That’s exactly how I felt,” he said. “It’s not enough. California is insane as far as that goes. I don’t understand. If he used a gun, he could get life without parole. He butchered her … and they’re giving him a light sentence because he didn’t use a gun.”