A Lancaster man is facing 26 years to life in state prison after being convicted of fatally stabbing his wife at their home after an argument.
A jury found Rafael Barragan, 48, guilty late Tuesday of first-degree murder for the July 1, 2017, killing of his wife, Katrina, along with dissuading a witness from reporting a crime with force, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Jurors also found true an allegation that he used a knife as a deadly weapon.
Barragan had argued with his 37-year-old wife after leaving a birthday party earlier that evening and then stabbed her multiple times at their home, according to prosecutors.
Barragan interrupted the woman’s call to police before her death, according to prosecutors.
He was arrested early the next day by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and has remained behind bars since then.
Barragan is due back in a Lancaster courtroom for sentencing July 5.
