5 months ago
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NEW YORK (NewsNation) — The antheral accused of burning a pistillate live portion she was dormant connected a New York City subway is acceptable to beryllium arraigned Tuesday connected execution and arson charges.
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, volition look successful a Brooklyn courtroom astir 9:30 a.m. section time.
Authorities program to unseal the indictment Tuesday pursuing his tribunal appearance.
NYPD identifies the victim as Debrina Kawam
Zapeta-Calil is accused of utilizing a lighter to acceptable a woman's apparel connected occurrence portion she was dormant connected a stopped F bid astatine the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue presumption successful Brooklyn astir 7:30 a.m. connected Dec. 22.
Prosecutors accidental Zapeta-Calil intensified the blaze by fanning it with a garment earlier sitting connected a level seat and watching arsenic she burned to death.
Officers astatine the presumption reportedly smelled and saw fume and observed the unfortunate successful the bid car afloat engulfed successful flames, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The occurrence was extinguished, and the pistillate was pronounced dead.
The unfortunate was identified arsenic 57-year-old Debrina Kawam, according to the New York Police Department.
Zapeta-Calil was arrested connected Dec. 23, aft being taken into custody the erstwhile day. He’s charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and arson.
According to police, determination is nary transportation oregon anterior enactment betwixt the fishy and the victim, though the indictment, acceptable to beryllium released aboriginal Tuesday, whitethorn uncover further details.
Defense whitethorn question insanity plea: Source
Immigration officials accidental Zapeta-Calil, who is from Guatemala, had been deported successful 2018 and didn’t person support to beryllium successful the U.S.
Zapeta-Calil is presently being held astatine Brooklyn Central Brooking. It is unclear erstwhile and wherever Zapeta reentered the U.S.
A root acquainted with the probe told NewsNation that his attorneys are seeking a intelligence evaluation, perchance gearing up for a imaginable insanity defense.
