Suspected Killer of Campbell Woman Appears in Court Today

The suspect in the carjacking and murder of appears in court this afternoon to enter a plea, but Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney James Leonard said it's not likely.

Paul Ray Castillo, with two prior convictions went on what was described as a on Sept. 16. He is scheduled to appear at the Santa Clara County Superior Court this afternoon, 2:00 p.m. in Department 23.

The following charges have been filed against him:

• murder;
• personal use of of a firearm;
• allegation of committing murder during the course of a kidnapping;
• allegation of committing murder during the course of a carjacking;
• kidnapping during the course of a carjacking;
• attempted second degree robbery;
• assault of a peace officer;
• second count of second degree robbery;
• second degree burglary;
• assault with a deadly weapon;
• vehicle theft.

"Any one of these felonies would qualify as a third strike," Leonard said.

If convicted, Castillo can face life without parole.

"The decision to seek the death penalty has not been made yet," Leonard said.

Castillo began his alleged crime spree around 10 a.m. Sept. 16 when he allegedly shot a 42-year-old man during a robbery at a Chevron gas station on Lincoln Avenue.

The victim was taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and survived. The suspect fled the scene in a Nissan 300Z that had been reported stolen nine days earlier.

The car was later found at The Plant shopping center at Monterey Road and Curtner Avenue, about a mile from the gas station.

Nguyen was carjacked at the shopping center at around noon. Her body was found at 8 a.m. Sept. 17 in a home on the 500 block of North 12th Street.

Castillo was arrested in West Sacramento on Sept. 18.