Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza
The second Vetrano trial got underway this week at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Borough prosecutors this week seized on their second chance at convincing a different dozen Queens residents that Chanel Lewis murdered Karina Vetrano as she jogged in her hometown of Howard Beach in the summer of 2016.
The judge presiding over the case against Lewis, 22, surprisingly declared a mistrial in November due to a hung jury after the panel completed just its first full day of deliberations but ultimately could not produce a finding.
“After deliberating for the entire day we are split. It doesn’t seem like we can make progress. We feel that we have exhausted all of our options,” the jury wrote in a note to Judge Michael Aloise.
Defense attorneys for Lewis subsequently asked that a mistrial be granted.
“I’m inclined to agree, even though it’s only been a day-and-a-half,” Aloise responded. “There were extensive deliberations. They covered issues central to the debate.”
Karina Vetrano’s mom, Catherine, who did not take the witness stand in the first trial, testified on Tuesday. According to the New York Post, sparks flew during cross examination. One of Lewis’ lawyers referred to the victim as “Katrina.”
“Excuse me, her name is Karina,” Catherine Vetrano corrected defense counsel.
Karina Vetrano, 30, was jogging alone in Spring Creek Park at approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, when she was allegedly confronted by Lewis, who beat, sexually assaulted, and strangled her, according to the charges. Vetrano’s body was discovered by her father later that night lying in a marshy area, approximately 15 feet from a trail near 161st Avenue and 78th Street in the federal green space.
