‘This crime was cruel’: Man convicted of murdering mother of his child by beheading her in the middle of the street with a samurai sword in broad daylight

Rafa Solano (L) and Karina Castro (R)

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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