Karina Castro beheading: Doctor finds 'schizophrenic' Jose Landaeta mentally fit to stand trial
WARNING: This article contains graphic imagery and content that some readers may find distressing. Discretion is advised.
SAN MATEO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: The schizophrenic 33-year-old man accused of beheading his ex-girlfriend outside her home in Northern California, has been found competent for trial. Jose Landaeta's trial for the brutal murder of 27-year-old Karina Castro in September 2022, will continue as scheduled after a court-hired doctor deemed he was mentally fit.
Landaeta appeared in court on Wednesday, March 1, for a preliminary hearing in San Mateo, California, per the DailyMail. He is accused of decapitating mother-of-two Castro using a samurai sword, while her two daughters, ages one and seven, were inside the home. The young mother had a restraining order against her ex, who is also the father of her one-year-old, before she was murdered.
READ MORE
Jose Landaeta appears in court
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told KPIX in February that Landaeta would continue to be prosecuted. The decision was taken in light of a report from the court-appointed physician, tasked with examining Landaeta, from January 26. Landaeta appeared in court before San Mateo Judge Rachel Holt, who will preside over his trial.
'A diagnosed schizophrenic'
A judge earlier said that the trial would start on March 23. Earlier, Landaeta alleged that Castro was carrying a knife when she was killed and that he acted out in "self-defense." His grandmother, Danielle Gannon, had said that he was a diagnosed schizophrenic who had a drinking problem and was on medication. He remains in custody without bail.
Who is Judge Rachel E Holt?
Holt sits in the California San Mateo County Superior Court's Family Law Division. On April 28, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed her to the bench to cover a vacancy brought about by the conversion of a court commissioner position. Since 2014, Holt has been a commissioner at the San Mateo County Superior Court. She practiced law as a single practitioner at the San Mateo County Private Defender Program from 2003 to 2014 while serving as a partner at Carr Yeley and Associates from 2006 to 2014. The judge worked as an assistant district attorney in the San Mateo County district attorney's office from 1998 to 2002.
Holt graduated with a Juris Doctor from the Santa Clara University School of Law. On June 20, 2019, she filled the duties of the court commissioner post that became vacant as a result of the conversion, as per gov.ca.