Lethal New York subway hearth suspect charged with homicide, arson By Reuters

By Wealthy McKay

(Reuters) – The person accused of killing a lady sleeping in a New York subway automobile by setting her on hearth was indicted by a grand jury on Friday with homicide and arson, prosecutors mentioned.

The defendant, Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was not current on the transient listening to in a Brooklyn courtroom, the prosecutor’s workplace mentioned.

Zapeta’s court-appointed lawyer didn’t instantly reply to an e-mail from Reuters looking for remark.

The grand jury indicted him on one rely of first-degree homicide, two counts of second-degree homicide and one rely of first-degree arson, Brooklyn District Lawyer Eric Gonzalez mentioned. to the media. Earlier this week, he was charged in a prison grievance filed in Brooklyn Prison Court docket with first-degree homicide, second-degree homicide and first-degree arson.

“My workplace may be very assured concerning the proof on this case and our capacity to carry Zapeta accountable for his despicable actions,” Gonzalez informed reporters. He known as the assault a “malicious act” in opposition to “a sleeping and susceptible girl”.

The U.S. Division of Homeland Safety mentioned the suspect was a Guatemalan citizen who entered the nation illegally and would doubtlessly provoke deportation proceedings in opposition to him. He lived in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, police mentioned.

In line with the police account, Zapeta used a lighter to ignite the clothes of a lady who gave the impression to be sleeping Sunday on a stopped F practice on the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station.

The suspect then used a shirt to fan the hearth till the lady was engulfed in flames, in keeping with the police grievance.

The lady was pronounced lifeless on the scene after the hearth was extinguished. The town medical expert mentioned the reason for dying was smoke inhalation and thermal accidents. Police didn’t instantly know the lady’s id, in keeping with the grievance.

Zapeta faces life in jail with out the potential of parole, Gonzalez mentioned. Zapeta can be arraigned on Jan. 7, the prosecutor’s workplace mentioned.