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Chanel Lewis was sentenced in April to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
By Michael V. Cusenza
The seven Democrats in the primary for Queens district attorney duked it out over several issues in a recent Spectrum News NY 1 debate, including how each viewed the investigation of the Karina Vetrano murder and trials.
Chanel Lewis, 22, ultimately was sentenced in April to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the August 2016 murder of Vetrano, 30, who was grabbed from a Spring Creek Park running path, beaten, sexually abused, and strangled to death near her Howard Beach home. He is appealing the verdict.
Last week at the debate, several candidates said the investigation and subsequent prosecution beg for the benefits of fresh eyes.
“I think that, originally, he should not have stood trial, because he is mentally ill,” said Betty Lugo. Lewis recently graduated from the Martin De Porres School for Exceptional Children in Elmont.
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz brought attention to the interrogation of Lewis at the 107th Precinct.
“Confessions should be videotaped from the beginning to the end,” Katz said during the debate. “And when there isn’t an attorney present for some reason, less weight should be given to the confession—but there should always be an attorney present. You have to videotape it, and you can’t be allowed to give snippets of it if you’re presenting it in front of a jury. You have to be able to see the whole videotaped confession.”
City Councilman and DA candidate Rory Lancman took it a step further when he said, “This is a case that has all the echoes of another Central Park Five case, and I have no problem saying that here and commit to the people of Queens that I will look at this case carefully to make sure that an injustice is not being done.”
