Jose Landaeta: Man who beheaded mom of his child with Samurai sword gets life, family says 'not enough'

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: A man from California who beheaded his child's mother in the middle of the street with a Samurai sword has been given a 'light sentence', the victim's family has asserted.

In connection with the September 8, 2022, killing of Karina Castro, 27, Jose Rafael "Rafa" Solano Landaeta, 34, was sentenced on Tuesday to 26 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Karina Castro's father criticized 'light sentence' given to Jose Landaeta

As per the KRON in the Bay Area, Castro's grandmother referred to Landaeta as a "monster" and "the worst kind of evil."

According to NBC Bay Area affiliate KNTV, Martin Castro Jr, the victim's father, felt that the punishment was insufficient.

“That’s exactly how I felt,” he stated.

“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.”

The defendant was reprimanded by Judge Lisa Novak, according to the outlet.

“This is by far the most difficult trial I’ve ever presided over because of the horror of the crime you committed in butchering Karina Castro,” Novak asserted.

“I have no discretion, so it is a sentence based on the verdict of the jury. What the community needs to understand is that this incredible act of violence is not related to untreated mental illness.”

Jose Landaeta was found guilty of first-degree murder

Landaeta's defense lawyer blamed mental health problems, claiming the murder was self-defense and that the victim had not been taking medication for chronic paranoid schizophrenia, according to KNTV.

The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office states that he was found guilty of first-degree murder in November.

The horrific daytime massacre took place in the San Carlos suburb, roughly 25 miles south of San Francisco, at the intersection of Laurel Street and Magnolia Avenue, as Law&Crime previously reported.

Solano has never disputed his actions. He told KGO-TV reporter Dan Noyes from San Francisco that he feared for his life in an interview conducted from the jailhouse because Castro had taken a gun on that particular day.

In a post-jail debriefing with colleagues, he recalled, "He says she emerged from the driver’s side of [her] Volkswagen with the knife in hand and kind of marched toward him with this knife. And he claimed that he swung that sword in self-defense.”

According to local CW affiliate KRON, evidence presented during the trial revealed that the mother of two and the murderer had grown more irate with one another in the days preceding the attack.

Even a defense lawyer called their relationship "toxic." Through a series of private messages on social media, Castro accused her ex-boyfriend of being a rapist and a pedophile.

Solano responded with a string of animated ninja emojis, some of which even had swords slung around their backs.

Neighbor Chapel Thorborne told KGO-TV, "The head was underneath the car and she was laying in the back of the car — just severed. And they covered her up.”

'No credible evidence that defendant suffered any mental health condition'

Prior to the violence, witnesses observed the two engaged in a verbal altercation on the street. After a while, Castro's two kids—one of whom is Solano's daughter—were relocated upstairs.

Eventually, the murderer returned to his vehicle, took out the samurai sword, and launched a blow. Palo Alto Online reports that the mother of his child was seen being repeatedly "slashed" at by the man until her head nearly fell off.

During the trial, prosecutor Josh Stauffer declared, "This crime was vicious. This crime was cruel. There is no credible evidence that the defendant suffered from any mental health condition on the day of the crime.”

According to the prosecution, Solano organized the sword attack. Claiming to be ill, he left work early, picked up the sword from his house an hour away, told a friend what he was planning, and then drove to face Castro.

Despite initially entering a not guilty by reason of insanity plea, Solano was found to be competent to face trial. Subsequently, he entered a not guilty plea and stated that the killing was done in self-defense.

The defense lawyer Robert Cummings also revealed to the jury that his client's diagnosis of schizophrenia caused him to truly fear for his life because of the messages he had received from Castro.

Additionally, the defense brought up the theory that the victim attempted to stab Solano first, but no proof of that account was ever offered.

Numerous medical experts attested in court that there was no connection between Solano's savage murder and his mental health problems. During the attack, the woman attempted to flee, but Solano persisted. She was hit by the killer at least seven times.

Solano "swing at Castro with such a blow, her arm was almost severed from her body," according to a witness who testified.