NEW YORK (Reuters) - The man accused of killing a woman sleeping on a New York City subway car by setting her on fire pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson at a court hearing on Tuesday.

Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of setting a woman on fire on the NYC subway, pleads not guilty in the death of Debrina Kawam.

A man accused of setting a sleeping woman on fire and killing her on a New York subway is scheduled to be arraigned on murder and arson charges Tuesday morning.

In December 2024, a woman was brutally set on fire in a New York City subway. She has now been identified as 57-year-old Toms River, New Jersey, resident Debrina Kawam. As the NYPD and Mayor Eric Adams spoke to the press, they explained more details about the terrifying crime.

Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of setting a woman on fire on the NYC subway, is due in court in the death of Debrina Kawam.

The suspect is accused of setting a sleeping woman's clothes on fire, using his shirt to fan the flames and then sitting on a platform bench nearby.

Prosecutors say the man lit a New Jersey native on fire on a stopped F train at Brooklyn’s Coney Island station in late December.

A man pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to setting a sleeping woman on fire, killing her aboard a New York City subway train.