Prosecution rests case in San Carlos beheading trial

Landaeta pleaded not guilty, and his attorney, Robert Cummings, is portraying the killing as self-defense by a man with mental health issues. Conversely, Deputy District Attorney Josh Keckley-Stauffer is pointing to the killing as purposeful vengeance, he said during opening statements on Tuesday.

Landaeta previously attempted a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity but was found competent to stand trial. Cummings said Landaeta was off his antipsychotic medication — prescribed for chronic paranoid schizophrenia — at the time of the crime.

The defense will begin to present their case on Monday, Nov. 13, where Landaeta could potentially testify, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

During witness testimony earlier in the week, San Mateo County sheriff’s Deputy Damian Machua, who was working at the gruesome crime scene, testified that Landaeta re-approached the scene with a murder confession.

“He said ‘she was trying to kill me. I’m sorry,’” Kron 4 news reported Machua saying when asked what Landaeta’s direct words were.

Turbulent online conversations between the victim and defendant the night before and morning of the murder have become a key element of the trial regarding motive, which is a crux point for the case.

In retrieved Snapchat conversations, Castro accused Landaeta of pedophilia and rape and also repeatedly brought up an alleged sexual encounter Landaeta had with a man and writing “now I hope u get ur s— shut down and taken out,” “u got a target on ur back now too, haha I already got a green light,” “tell yo mom to plan a r f— service,” “it’s good im on the phone now making ahit happen,” “imam have someone on u all times,” and “i got my n— on his way.”

Cummings said earlier this week during opening statements that these texts made Landaeta fearful for his life, mentioning Castro was also armed with at least one knife at the time of the crime, the Mercury News reported.

In Instagram conversations hours before the murder, Landaeta received messages inquiring about a video Castro had allegedly posted the previous night in which she alleged he had sexual encounters with a man. In response to the inquiries, Landaeta wrote, “im ngl bro she lookin ta get smoked,” “she need to get 86’d,” “i think im goin down blood,” and “imma have to do what i gotta do.”

Stauffer pointed to these messages as clear examples of a vengeance-motived crime during his opening statements.

Jurors also reviewed autopsy images of the crime — which caused several to become tearful or emotional — and heard eyewitness reports from those who witnessed it occur, earlier in the week. Castro’s head was nearly completely separated from her body after being struck multiple times in the neck with a samurai sword.

Renata Tabellion, who was walking down Laurel Street, testified to Landaeta and Castro having an intense argument outside of Castro’s apartment just before Landaeta allegedly went into his car and pulled out what was later identified as the sword used to kill Castro.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Lisa Novak is overseeing the case, which could earn Landaeta 26 to life in prison if convicted.