Schizophrenic ex accused of decapitating mom-of-two outside her home is ... trends now
The schizophrenic ex-boyfriend who is accused of decapitating his ex-girlfriend in broad daylight outside of her Northern California home has been found competent to stand trial.
Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33, will have his trial proceed as planned after a court-appointed doctor ruled the man accused of killing Karen Castro, 27, in September is mentally fit.
DailyMail.com pictured Landaeta in court Wednesday as he appeared for a preliminary hearing in San Mateo, California.
Landaeta is accused of using a samurai sword to decapitate the mother of two in San Carlos while her two young daughters, aged seven and one, were inside the home.
Before her murder, the young mother had been granted a restraining order against her ex - who is also the father of her one-year-old child.
The schizophrenic ex-boyfriend who decapitated his ex-girlfriend in broad daylight outside of her Northern California home has been found competent to stand trial
Landaeta is accused of brutally decapitating his ex-girlfriend Karen Castro, 27
Jose Rafael Solano Landaeta, 33, will have his trial proceed as planned after a court-appointed doctor ruled the man accused of killing Karen Castro, 27, in September is mentally fit
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe confirmed in February to KPIX proceedings against the accused murderer would resume.
The decision was made based on a January 26 report from the court appointed doctor assigned to examine Landaeta.
On Wednesday, the Bay Area man was seen in court, shackled and clad in orange from head to toe.
Landaeta appeared before San Mateo judge Rachel Holt who will oversee his trial.
A judge had previously declared that the trial will begin on March 23.
In a February interview, Solano claimed the attack was in self-defense and that Castro had a knife on her at the time of her murder.
According to the family of the deceased mother, Landaeta is a diagnosed schizophrenic and had a history of drinking on his medications.
The aspiring rapper had been warned to stay away from Castro both legally and informally by her and her family member.
Her family has spoken with Bay Area outlets and said they have been concerned about him harming their daughter for years.
'Every time I saw her, I would beg her, "Don't talk to him, leave him,"' Marty Castro, the young woman's father, told ABC7.
'And it seemed like the more I did that, the more she would see him,' he continued.
