Mom says alleged San Carlos killer has history of catatonic episodes

The defendant, Jose Solano Landaeta, who pleaded not guilty, is charged with the murder of Karina Castro with a sword on Sept. 8, 2022.

The defense is portraying the killing as self-defense by a man with mental health issues. Landaeta did not attend Tuesday’s proceedings after appearing completely unresponsive shortly after cross-examination on Monday, despite answering his attorney’s questions for nearly three hours earlier in the day.

Landaeta “has elected not to participate in trial today,” Judge Lisa Novak, who is presiding over the case, said. Landaeta is charged with the near beheading of Karina Castro, and had refused to attend the trial’s Nov. 7 opening statements but was previously present in court.

Landaeta’s mother, Ava Solano, was questioned more extensively about her son’s schizophrenic and paranoid episodes, which are an element of his defense. His attorney has said the combination of Landaeta’s mental illness, alongside threats against him by Castro, made him believe his life was in imminent danger.

Solano testified that Landaeta had seemingly suffered from paranoia from as young as 4 or 5. He was put on an anti-psychotic at around age 15 and was hospitalized for “episodes” at least 2-3 times, sometimes for as long as two weeks, Solano said. She described him as “catatonic” during these episodes, agitated, aggressive and not speaking.

“His father and I were always watching him,” she said. “We were aware his behavior was not normal.”

Landaeta testified for nearly three hours on Monday under questioning from his own attorney, Robert Cummings, but became completely unresponsive shortly after the prosecutor, Josh Keckley-Stauffer, began cross-examination, which District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said was a violation of court order.

Landaeta said he had a panic attack on the stand Monday, which was the cause of him to not respond to touch or sound for 20-30 minutes.

In court on Tuesday, Keckley-Stauffer informed Judge Novak that he had no more questions for Landaeta, meaning his testimony will remain on the record. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said this was an intentional decision on the part of the prosecution team, who could have requested the entire testimony be struck after he did not answer cross-examination questions.

The prosecution called a doctor who interviewed Landaeta in September and October to the witness stand, Wagstaffe said. She testified that she saw no symptoms of any mental health condition — aside from his own report he heard voices — and that Landaeta had told her he stopped taking his medication while in jail to improve his defense.

The victim’s father, Martin Castro, was also called to testify. His testimony was brief — he testified to finding a pink knife in Karina Castro’s car when he received the Volkswagen back from police custody following the murder.

In previous testimony Monday, Landaeta alleged that before the murder occurred, Castro came toward him with a knife, at which point he had an “episode” and did not remember anything past that until he was driving down the street. Police and prosecutors have said no knives were found at the crime scene.

Solano also described her recollection of the “tragedy” of Sept. 8, 2022, when Landaeta allegedly struck Castro at least seven times in the neck with a samurai sword in broad daylight and in the middle of a residential street.

Landaeta called her in a “strange” tone of voice on Sept. 8, Solano said, which immediately signified to her he was having an episode. After walking outside of her apartment, which was close by to Castro’s residence and the scene of the crime, she immediately ran around the block looking for him, she said. She found him about a block away, standing silently, shaking and drooling, Solano said. She then walked him to the sheriff, she testified, informing the sheriff he was turning himself in.

During cross-examination by the prosecution, Solano testified that Landaeta’s “episodes” typically lasted longer than 20-30 minutes, and it would be inconsistent with his behavioral patterns for him to be moving around quickly after. She also testified that he was not typically physically violent during episodes.

The jury trial will continue Wednesday, where Landaeta’s brother and father, along with two more court-appointed doctors, will take the witness stand.