San Antonio man who brutally killed woman with ax, machete sentenced to 70 years in prison

SAN ANTONIO – It took a jury about an hour to sentence a man to 70 years in prison for a brutal attack on a woman in November of 2020.

The same jury found Rafael Castillo guilty of murder on Tuesday after deliberating for a little over an hour.

Castillo attacked Nicole Perry, 31, by severing her hands with a machete and then hitting her over the head with an ax.

Perry and Castillo were all staying in a known drug house off West Harlan Avenue when the attack occurred.

The punishment phase began on Wednesday with the state putting up one witness — a prison gang expert who identified Castillo’s tattoos as being affiliated with the Texas Mexican Mafia.

As for the defense, three family friends and Castillo’s sister took the stand all saying that Castillo was a loving person who actively took part in the church they attended.

The state argued that wasn’t enough to spare Castillo and asked the jury for a life sentence.

Castillo will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

WATCH: KSAT court reporter Erica Hernandez answers viewers’ questions about Rafael Castillo murder trial

Related:

• Jury finds man guilty of killing woman with machete, ax
• Eyewitness reveals horrific details of woman’s death involving a machete, ax, on the witness stand
• Trial begins for man accused of dismembering San Antonio woman back in 2020
• Affidavit: Man dismembered woman while she was still alive, forced her fiance to clean the scene