"San Carlos Samurai Sword Killer Sentenced to Life for Beheading Ex-Girlfriend"

Jose "Rafa" Solano Landaeta was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for beheading his ex-girlfriend, Karina Castro, with a samurai sword in a public street. The judge expressed a wish for a more severe sentence, but was bound by California law. Witnesses testified to the horrifying attack, and Castro's family members made emotional statements in court. Landaeta, who claimed mental illness as a defense, was found guilty of first-degree murder in a manner that was egregiously vicious and cruel. The victim's family called for the fullest extent of punishment, and the judge emphasized that Landaeta's actions were not rooted in mental illness.