Man charged with burning NJ woman alive on NYC subway appears in court
Sebastian Zapeta appeared in Kings County Supreme Court, nearly three months after he allegedly set 57-year-old Debrina Kwam on fire.
A 33-year-old man who was charged with burning a woman alive on a New York City subway appeared in court on Wednesday.
Sebastian Zapeta appeared in Kings County Supreme Court, nearly three months after he allegedly set 57-year-old Debrina Kwam, of Toms River, on fire.
Police say she was sleeping on an F train at the Stillwell Avenue station in Coney Island.
In January, Zapeta pleaded not guilty to charges, including first-degree murder and arson. Prosecutors say those actions left Kawam burned alive and unrecognizable.
In the indictment, prosecutors show Zapeta pictures and a video of someone lighting Kawam on fire.
When asked who the man in, Zapeta responded "That's me."
He also admitted during questioning that he has a drinking problem, which overcame him that morning in December.
On Wednesday in court, the District Attorney's Office asked Judge Daniel Chun to order Zapeta to provide a new DNA sample.
Local community leader, the Rev. Kevin McCall spoke out again on behalf of the victim's family, who has yet to attend a court day themselves.
Judge Chun will issue a decision on the DNA sampling on May 7 when Zapeta is also scheduled to be back in court.
