Lewis sentenced to life in prison
Vetrano case comes to a close for some while Legal Aid Society plans appeal to guilty verdict
BY BILL PARRY
Chanel Lewis was
sentenced on Tuesday to life
in prison without parole for
the murder of Howard Beach
jogger Karina Vetrano.
The sentence, handed down
on April 23 by Judge Michael
Aloise following a tumultuous
24 hours in his courtroom,
came after emotional
statements from the victim’s
family. The Legal Aid Society,
which represented Lewis
during his legal odyssey,
vowed to appeal the case.
“While there is no denying
that Karina Vetrano’s death is
tragic and that her family and
friends suffered a great loss,
every aspect of this case, from
the police investigation to jury
deliberations, was propelled
by a desire to convict at all
costs,” The Legal Aid Society
said in a statement. “This was
done without any concern for
Mr. Lewis’s Constitutional
rights to due process and a
fair trial. We will appeal this
case to the Appellate Division
to secure Mr. Lewis the justice
he deserves.”
Lewis, 22, was found guilty
on April 1 of committing
the Aug. 2, 2016, murder and
sexual assault of Vetrano, 30,
who was beaten and choked
while jogging in Spring Creek
Park just blocks from her
home. He was arrested and
charged six months after it
occurred, tied to the homicide
through DNA evidence.
The first-degree murder
verdict handed down against
Lewis was reached at the end
of his second trial, which
came nearly five months
after a mistrial was declared
in the first case just before
Thanksgiving 2018 due to a
deadlocked jury.
Lewis was set to be
sentenced last Wednesday but
the judge postponed it after
his defense team filed a juror’s
claim of jury misconduct.
According to court
documents, on the day the
Vetrano parents testified, one
Chanel Lewis was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of
Karina Vetrano.
juror allegedly said to another,
“Well, I have my mind made
up, and I hope you do, too.”
In the same affidavit, two
jurors allegedly spoke of their
own experiences as either
a rape victim or as a prior
juror in a rape trial as the
jury evaluated trial evidence
in the case. The juror also
complained of feeling pressure
about time; when asking to
review the confession tape,
some of the jurors said, “Do
you really need to see it again?
It’s going to take time and
we’re going to be here till 1
a.m.”
The prosecution said it had
affidavits from three jurors
denying any misconduct took
place. Judge Aloise agreed and
scheduled Lewis’ sentencing
for April 23.
After the hearing, tempers
exploded on the steps outside
the courthouse, as Lewis
family spokesman Chris
Banks accused Judge Aloise of
running a kangaroo court in
his comments to reporters.
“He’s a clown and this is a
circus,” Banks said. “My client
did not receive a fair shake.”
The mother of Chanel
Lewis was furious.
“Shame on the judge,”
Veta Lewis said. “My son is
innocent from day one. I feel
the Vetranos’ pain because
they lost a daughter, but I, too,
lost a son and my son is not
the killer.”
She was drowned out by a
crowd of supporters chanting,
“Go find the killers!”
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by e-mail at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
Walking the Way of the Cross in Corona
On the most solemn day of the church year, Catholics across Corona walked the Stations of the Cross through the neighborhood on Good Friday, April 19. Members of
Our Lady of Sorrows Church reenacted the Stations which marked the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Photos by Dean Moses
TIMESLEDGER, A QNS.COM PR. 26-MAY 2, 2019 3
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