"Bay Area Man Convicted of Samurai Sword Beheading in Murder Trial"

A Bay Area man, Rafa Solano, has been found guilty of first-degree murder for beheading his ex-girlfriend, Karina Castro, with a samurai sword during an argument over Snapchat messages. The crime occurred in September 2022 in San Carlos. Solano and Castro had an ongoing relationship and a child together, but Castro had obtained a temporary restraining order against Solano in April 2022 due to his violent behavior. Solano admitted to the killing, claiming self-defense, and his attorney raised concerns about his mental health. Solano could face 26 years to life in prison.