Verdict reached in trial of Bay Area man accused of beheading ex-girlfriend with samurai sword

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KGO) — A Bay Area man has been found guilty of first-degree murder for beheading his ex-girlfriend with a samurai sword in the middle of a San Carlos street in 2022.The jury handed down their verdict Monday afternoon in a Redwood City courtroom.They found Rafa Solano guilty of murdering 27-year-old Karina Castro in the middle of the street in September 2022.Officials say the crime happened in the street outside the victim’s residence during an argument over Snapchat messages.VIDEO: Man admits to beheading San Carlos mother of 2 with samurai sword in Sept.An ABC7 I-Team exclusive interview from the San Mateo County Jail: Rafa Solano admits to killing a mother of two with a samurai sword in September.ABC7 was told the two were in an ongoing relationship and had a child together, but law enforcement sources say the victim got a temporary restraining order against the suspect in April 2022.Family members of the victim, Castro, told ABC7’s Dan Noyes that Solano was schizophrenic and on medication, something his family confirmed through his attorney.Both law enforcement and Castro’s family say that Solano had been violent with Castro, leading her to get a restraining order against him in April 2022.
Read More