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| Mystery of Karina Vetrano’s Death Ends With Murder Conviction | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
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| A Brooklyn man was found guilty late Monday of murdering a woman while she jogged in a Queens park, ending a two-week trial that had raised questions about coerced confessions, racial profiling and police practices. | A Brooklyn man was found guilty late Monday of murdering a woman while she jogged in a Queens park, ending a two-week trial that had raised questions about coerced confessions, racial profiling and police practices. |
| The man, Chanel Lewis, 22, had confessed to attacking the woman, Karina Vetrano, in Spring Creek Park in August 2016. Traces of his DNA were found on her neck and cellphone, and underneath her fingernails. | The man, Chanel Lewis, 22, had confessed to attacking the woman, Karina Vetrano, in Spring Creek Park in August 2016. Traces of his DNA were found on her neck and cellphone, and underneath her fingernails. |
| Mr. Lewis’s first trial, five months ago, ended with a hung jury. Some jurors then were swayed by defense arguments that Mr. Lewis’s confession was coerced and that the DNA evidence was contaminated. | Mr. Lewis’s first trial, five months ago, ended with a hung jury. Some jurors then were swayed by defense arguments that Mr. Lewis’s confession was coerced and that the DNA evidence was contaminated. |
| But after only five hours of deliberation on Monday, at his second trial, a different jury found Mr. Lewis guilty of first-degree murder and other charges for the strangling of Ms. Vetrano. The jurors also found him guilty of first-degree sexual abuse. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced on April 17. | But after only five hours of deliberation on Monday, at his second trial, a different jury found Mr. Lewis guilty of first-degree murder and other charges for the strangling of Ms. Vetrano. The jurors also found him guilty of first-degree sexual abuse. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced on April 17. |
| As the foreman read out the guilty verdict, cheers and applause went up from Ms. Vetrano’s family members in State Supreme Court in Queens. Mr. Lewis did not react. | As the foreman read out the guilty verdict, cheers and applause went up from Ms. Vetrano’s family members in State Supreme Court in Queens. Mr. Lewis did not react. |
| “Jubilation,” said Philip Vetrano, the father of Ms. Vetrano, as he left the courtroom. “Justice has been served.” | “Jubilation,” said Philip Vetrano, the father of Ms. Vetrano, as he left the courtroom. “Justice has been served.” |
| The Lewis family will appeal the jury’s decision, Chris Banks, a spokesman, said. “We knew he would be railroaded,” he said. “The evidence was extremely weak and the confession was coerced.” | The Lewis family will appeal the jury’s decision, Chris Banks, a spokesman, said. “We knew he would be railroaded,” he said. “The evidence was extremely weak and the confession was coerced.” |
| The killing of Ms. Vetrano, 30, was one of the most high-profile cases in the city in recent years, jarring for its apparent randomness and brutality. It set in motion a massive investigation. The prosecution of Mr. Lewis had prompted debate over social media, and in the courtroom, as some observers said the confession and DNA evidence were proof enough of Mr. Lewis’s guilt, while others argued that prosecutors had the wrong person. | The killing of Ms. Vetrano, 30, was one of the most high-profile cases in the city in recent years, jarring for its apparent randomness and brutality. It set in motion a massive investigation. The prosecution of Mr. Lewis had prompted debate over social media, and in the courtroom, as some observers said the confession and DNA evidence were proof enough of Mr. Lewis’s guilt, while others argued that prosecutors had the wrong person. |
| With each witness, prosecutors sought to show that the DNA evidence had not been tainted and that Mr. Lewis had not been pressured into confessing to a crime he did not commit, as the defense argued. | With each witness, prosecutors sought to show that the DNA evidence had not been tainted and that Mr. Lewis had not been pressured into confessing to a crime he did not commit, as the defense argued. |
| The lead prosecutor, Brad A. Leventhal, said it was “376 billion times more probable it’s his DNA under her fingernails” than somebody else’s. Mr. Leventhal said the argument from defense lawyers that Mr. Lewis gave a false confession “makes no sense.” | The lead prosecutor, Brad A. Leventhal, said it was “376 billion times more probable it’s his DNA under her fingernails” than somebody else’s. Mr. Leventhal said the argument from defense lawyers that Mr. Lewis gave a false confession “makes no sense.” |
| Mr. Leventhal said evidence from cellphones placed Mr. Lewis in the area of the park at the time of the murder. He also stressed that Mr. Lewis’s cellphone contained downloaded images of the crime scene and internet searches about “second chances.” | Mr. Leventhal said evidence from cellphones placed Mr. Lewis in the area of the park at the time of the murder. He also stressed that Mr. Lewis’s cellphone contained downloaded images of the crime scene and internet searches about “second chances.” |
| Prosecutors also called Ms. Vetrano’s mother, Cathie Vetrano, to testify about her last conversation with her daughter; she had not been called to testify in the first trial. During closing arguments, she held a small cross inside the packed courtroom while Mr. Lewis’s mother, Veta Lewis, sat at the opposite side quietly reading a Bible. | Prosecutors also called Ms. Vetrano’s mother, Cathie Vetrano, to testify about her last conversation with her daughter; she had not been called to testify in the first trial. During closing arguments, she held a small cross inside the packed courtroom while Mr. Lewis’s mother, Veta Lewis, sat at the opposite side quietly reading a Bible. |
| Mr. Lewis’s lawyers had sought to poke holes in the prosecution’s case, suggesting that the investigation into Karina Vetrano’s murder was “sloppy.” Investigators and the medical examiner, they said, had not checked for DNA evidence at the crime scene or on other parts of Ms. Vetrano’s body — aside from her neck and nails. | Mr. Lewis’s lawyers had sought to poke holes in the prosecution’s case, suggesting that the investigation into Karina Vetrano’s murder was “sloppy.” Investigators and the medical examiner, they said, had not checked for DNA evidence at the crime scene or on other parts of Ms. Vetrano’s body — aside from her neck and nails. |
| “This is tunnel vision clouding judgment,” said Robert Moeller, one of Mr. Lewis’s lawyers. “You see things that could have been done were not done.” | “This is tunnel vision clouding judgment,” said Robert Moeller, one of Mr. Lewis’s lawyers. “You see things that could have been done were not done.” |
| Mr. Moeller told jurors that reasonable doubt exists. He said there was no video of Mr. Lewis entering or leaving the park and no fingerprints or hair, or “the kind of DNA that will tell you what happened.” He argued that Mr. Lewis’s DNA could have ended up on Ms. Vetrano through transference if they touched the same surface at some point. | Mr. Moeller told jurors that reasonable doubt exists. He said there was no video of Mr. Lewis entering or leaving the park and no fingerprints or hair, or “the kind of DNA that will tell you what happened.” He argued that Mr. Lewis’s DNA could have ended up on Ms. Vetrano through transference if they touched the same surface at some point. |
| He also argued that Mr. Lewis’s statements to investigators were inconsistent with evidence at the crime scene. He told the police she drowned in a puddle, for instance, yet autopsy results show she was strangled. | He also argued that Mr. Lewis’s statements to investigators were inconsistent with evidence at the crime scene. He told the police she drowned in a puddle, for instance, yet autopsy results show she was strangled. |
| Mr. Moeller asked the jury to pay close attention to Mr. Lewis’s behavior in the video of his confession, noting that he, though an adult, had asked to speak to his mother and to watch cartoons while in police custody. | Mr. Moeller asked the jury to pay close attention to Mr. Lewis’s behavior in the video of his confession, noting that he, though an adult, had asked to speak to his mother and to watch cartoons while in police custody. |
| Mr. Lewis lived with his mother and had graduated from a school for students with learning disabilities. He appeared confused at times during the videotaped interview, and mumbled through some of his responses. | Mr. Lewis lived with his mother and had graduated from a school for students with learning disabilities. He appeared confused at times during the videotaped interview, and mumbled through some of his responses. |
| One juror, who requested not to be named for fear of harassment, said there were some undecided jurors when deliberations started. He and two other jurors requested to review the videotape of the confession. | One juror, who requested not to be named for fear of harassment, said there were some undecided jurors when deliberations started. He and two other jurors requested to review the videotape of the confession. |
| “You always see cases where the wrong person is put behind bars and then 30 years later their whole life is gone and you find out they’re not guilty,” the juror said. “That was in the back of my mind.” | “You always see cases where the wrong person is put behind bars and then 30 years later their whole life is gone and you find out they’re not guilty,” the juror said. “That was in the back of my mind.” |
| In the end, however, he said he was persuaded by the other jurors that the confession was genuine and that the scientific evidence backed it up. | In the end, however, he said he was persuaded by the other jurors that the confession was genuine and that the scientific evidence backed it up. |
| Shortly before the verdict on Monday, the case took an unexpected turn when defense lawyers received an anonymous letter from a person who claimed to be a police officer. That person said that before the police turned their focus toward Mr. Lewis, they had collected DNA samples from at least 360 black men who had previously been in custody in parts of Queens and Brooklyn. The letter also said the police initially thought two white men had killed Ms. Vetrano. | Shortly before the verdict on Monday, the case took an unexpected turn when defense lawyers received an anonymous letter from a person who claimed to be a police officer. That person said that before the police turned their focus toward Mr. Lewis, they had collected DNA samples from at least 360 black men who had previously been in custody in parts of Queens and Brooklyn. The letter also said the police initially thought two white men had killed Ms. Vetrano. |
| Mr. Lewis’s lawyers asked Justice Michael B. Aloise for a hearing to determine if prosecutors had withheld evidence favorable to Mr. Lewis, and for a mistrial. Mr. Leventhal, the prosecutor, argued that the letter was sent by someone “trying to derail this case on the eve of summations.” Justice Aloise denied both of the defense’s requests. | Mr. Lewis’s lawyers asked Justice Michael B. Aloise for a hearing to determine if prosecutors had withheld evidence favorable to Mr. Lewis, and for a mistrial. Mr. Leventhal, the prosecutor, argued that the letter was sent by someone “trying to derail this case on the eve of summations.” Justice Aloise denied both of the defense’s requests. |
| The Legal Aid Society, which represented Mr. Lewis, said in a statement that Justice Aloise’s decision not to hold a hearing threw the validity of the entire trial into question and that it would appeal the verdict. “Our client did not receive a fair trial,” the group said. | The Legal Aid Society, which represented Mr. Lewis, said in a statement that Justice Aloise’s decision not to hold a hearing threw the validity of the entire trial into question and that it would appeal the verdict. “Our client did not receive a fair trial,” the group said. |
| On Aug. 2, 2016, Ms. Vetrano had gone for a late afternoon jog in Spring Creek Park in the Howard Beach section of Queens. Her badly beaten body was found in a weeded path in the park by her father. | On Aug. 2, 2016, Ms. Vetrano had gone for a late afternoon jog in Spring Creek Park in the Howard Beach section of Queens. Her badly beaten body was found in a weeded path in the park by her father. |
| Her death started one of the most extensive manhunts in the New York Police Department’s recent history. A task force of 100 detectives was initially assigned to investigate her death, and authorities offered a $35,000 reward for information leading to her killer. | Her death started one of the most extensive manhunts in the New York Police Department’s recent history. A task force of 100 detectives was initially assigned to investigate her death, and authorities offered a $35,000 reward for information leading to her killer. |
| For the first two weeks, the police were searching for two white men, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss parts of the investigation not made public at trial. Then investigators learned that the DNA found at the crime scene had come from a black man, whom investigators called “Male Donor A.” | For the first two weeks, the police were searching for two white men, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss parts of the investigation not made public at trial. Then investigators learned that the DNA found at the crime scene had come from a black man, whom investigators called “Male Donor A.” |
| The person said 384 black men were interviewed and gave saliva samples. The samples were entered into the Local DNA Index System, a database maintained by the city medical examiner’s office. | The person said 384 black men were interviewed and gave saliva samples. The samples were entered into the Local DNA Index System, a database maintained by the city medical examiner’s office. |
| Still, it was not until detectives obtained a DNA sample from Mr. Lewis nearly six months after the killing that they found a match. Detectives spoke to Mr. Lewis on the recommendation of a police lieutenant, John Russo, who had seen him on two occasions “acting suspiciously” as he wandered in Howard Beach, a predominantly white neighborhood. He lived roughly three miles away in East New York, Brooklyn. | Still, it was not until detectives obtained a DNA sample from Mr. Lewis nearly six months after the killing that they found a match. Detectives spoke to Mr. Lewis on the recommendation of a police lieutenant, John Russo, who had seen him on two occasions “acting suspiciously” as he wandered in Howard Beach, a predominantly white neighborhood. He lived roughly three miles away in East New York, Brooklyn. |
| A city medical examiner testified that the DNA matched traces found on Ms. Vetrano’s neck and cellphone, and a mixture sample from two of her fingernails. Defense lawyers argued that the DNA evidence was weak, and not enough to prove he was the killer. | A city medical examiner testified that the DNA matched traces found on Ms. Vetrano’s neck and cellphone, and a mixture sample from two of her fingernails. Defense lawyers argued that the DNA evidence was weak, and not enough to prove he was the killer. |
| At first, Mr. Lewis repeatedly denied he had killed Ms. Vetrano. But after 11 hours in police custody, including four hours in a windowless interrogation room, he told detectives and a Queens prosecutor in a videotaped interview that he had beaten Ms. Vetrano. He said he killed her because he was angry that his neighbor had been playing loud music. | At first, Mr. Lewis repeatedly denied he had killed Ms. Vetrano. But after 11 hours in police custody, including four hours in a windowless interrogation room, he told detectives and a Queens prosecutor in a videotaped interview that he had beaten Ms. Vetrano. He said he killed her because he was angry that his neighbor had been playing loud music. |
| The day after the murder, Mr. Lewis had sought treatment for a hand injury that a doctor said was consistent with punching someone, prosecutors said. | The day after the murder, Mr. Lewis had sought treatment for a hand injury that a doctor said was consistent with punching someone, prosecutors said. |