Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan man, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and arson in connection with a tragic incident on a Brooklyn subway car. The accused, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2018, allegedly set a sleeping woman on fire as she sat on a subway bench.
The victim, identified as Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old from Toms River, New Jersey, suffered fatal injuries in the attack. The horrific incident took place at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn, where the suspect calmly approached the victim and ignited her clothing with a lighter. The victim's remains were so badly burned that it took authorities over a week to identify her.
