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| Hung Jury in Murder Trial Over 2016 Death of Jogger Karina Vetrano | Hung Jury in Murder Trial Over 2016 Death of Jogger Karina Vetrano |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| [What you need to know to start your day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] | [What you need to know to start your day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] |
| The trial of the man accused of murdering Karina Vetrano, a 30-year-old woman who was killed while jogging in a Queens park in 2016, ended in a mistrial Tuesday night. | The trial of the man accused of murdering Karina Vetrano, a 30-year-old woman who was killed while jogging in a Queens park in 2016, ended in a mistrial Tuesday night. |
| After a day and a half of deliberations, 12 jurors returned to the courtroom split on whether to find the man, Chanel Lewis, 22, guilty of the murder and sexual abuse of Ms. Vetrano on a late August afternoon in Spring Creek Park. | |
| The defense lawyers requested a mistrial, and Justice Michael B. Aloise of State Supreme Court in Queens granted the motion, supporting the jurors’ sentiment that their conclusion would not change. “I’m inclined to believe them,” he said. | The defense lawyers requested a mistrial, and Justice Michael B. Aloise of State Supreme Court in Queens granted the motion, supporting the jurors’ sentiment that their conclusion would not change. “I’m inclined to believe them,” he said. |
| The victim’s family members declined to speak with reporters as they left the courthouse. A person with the family said they needed space. | The victim’s family members declined to speak with reporters as they left the courthouse. A person with the family said they needed space. |
| During deliberations, the jury requested a number of key pieces of evidence that were presented throughout the trial. That included further examination of the DNA evidence, and a viewing of the confession tape, in which Mr. Lewis is seen admitting to the murder on two separate occasions, after repeatedly denying it to investigators. | During deliberations, the jury requested a number of key pieces of evidence that were presented throughout the trial. That included further examination of the DNA evidence, and a viewing of the confession tape, in which Mr. Lewis is seen admitting to the murder on two separate occasions, after repeatedly denying it to investigators. |
| Robert Moeller, one of Mr. Lewis’s lawyers, said that a day and a half had been sufficient time for deliberations. | Robert Moeller, one of Mr. Lewis’s lawyers, said that a day and a half had been sufficient time for deliberations. |
| “According to their note, they were hopelessly deadlocked,” Mr. Moeller said. “So what’s another day going to do?” | “According to their note, they were hopelessly deadlocked,” Mr. Moeller said. “So what’s another day going to do?” |
| Mr. Lewis is “happy that he wasn’t convicted,” Mr. Moeller added. Yet he remains in custody. | Mr. Lewis is “happy that he wasn’t convicted,” Mr. Moeller added. Yet he remains in custody. |
| “The jury is understanding that DNA is not all it; the confession is not all it,” said Jen Cheung, a lawyer for Mr. Lewis. “There are issues in the case that, as you all see, are much more complex.” | “The jury is understanding that DNA is not all it; the confession is not all it,” said Jen Cheung, a lawyer for Mr. Lewis. “There are issues in the case that, as you all see, are much more complex.” |
| Officials with the Queens District Attorney’s Office said that they planned to retry the case. A new trial is set to begin Jan. 22. | Officials with the Queens District Attorney’s Office said that they planned to retry the case. A new trial is set to begin Jan. 22. |
| The Legal Aid Society released a statement pledging to continue its defense of Mr. Lewis. | The Legal Aid Society released a statement pledging to continue its defense of Mr. Lewis. |
| “As we have said since Day 1, this case is far from conclusive and the jury’s deadlock proves this,” the statement said. “The death of Karina Vetrano is tragic and our hearts go out to her family, but the rush to criminalize our client is not the answer nor is it justice.” | “As we have said since Day 1, this case is far from conclusive and the jury’s deadlock proves this,” the statement said. “The death of Karina Vetrano is tragic and our hearts go out to her family, but the rush to criminalize our client is not the answer nor is it justice.” |
| Ms. Vetrano’s badly beaten body was found by her father on the night of Aug. 2, 2016, setting off a manhunt that involved scores of officers. In early February 2017, the police arrested Mr. Lewis on charges of murder and sexual abuse. | Ms. Vetrano’s badly beaten body was found by her father on the night of Aug. 2, 2016, setting off a manhunt that involved scores of officers. In early February 2017, the police arrested Mr. Lewis on charges of murder and sexual abuse. |
| Mr. Lewis became a suspect after a police lieutenant said he had spotted Mr. Lewis loitering in Howard Beach in the months preceding the murder. The lieutenant, John Russo, told jurors that Mr. Lewis had been wearing thick clothing during the middle of summer and had avoided the police, which made him stand out. Later, the police reviewed a 911 call from May of that year that placed Mr. Lewis in the same part of the park where Ms. Vetrano’s body was discovered. | Mr. Lewis became a suspect after a police lieutenant said he had spotted Mr. Lewis loitering in Howard Beach in the months preceding the murder. The lieutenant, John Russo, told jurors that Mr. Lewis had been wearing thick clothing during the middle of summer and had avoided the police, which made him stand out. Later, the police reviewed a 911 call from May of that year that placed Mr. Lewis in the same part of the park where Ms. Vetrano’s body was discovered. |
| Soon after they identified him as a possible suspect, the police confronted Mr. Lewis at his home and asked him for a DNA sample. He confessed to the crime during a four-hour interrogation after his DNA matched a sample found on Ms. Vetrano. “I was beating her and was mad at her,” he told a Queens assistant district attorney in an interview that was videotaped. | Soon after they identified him as a possible suspect, the police confronted Mr. Lewis at his home and asked him for a DNA sample. He confessed to the crime during a four-hour interrogation after his DNA matched a sample found on Ms. Vetrano. “I was beating her and was mad at her,” he told a Queens assistant district attorney in an interview that was videotaped. |
| In a nearly two-hour closing argument on Monday, the lead prosecutor, Brad Leventhal, raised his voice frequently to describe Ms. Vetrano’s murder. Then Mr. Leventhal acted out the crime, using both hands to show how prosecutors say Mr. Lewis first punched and then strangled Ms. Vetrano. | In a nearly two-hour closing argument on Monday, the lead prosecutor, Brad Leventhal, raised his voice frequently to describe Ms. Vetrano’s murder. Then Mr. Leventhal acted out the crime, using both hands to show how prosecutors say Mr. Lewis first punched and then strangled Ms. Vetrano. |
| “If you follow the evidence, it leads you to one location; it leads you to to one person. Right over there,” Mr. Leventhal said, pointing directly across the courtroom at Mr. Lewis. “Chanel Lewis. Murderer. Killer.” | “If you follow the evidence, it leads you to one location; it leads you to to one person. Right over there,” Mr. Leventhal said, pointing directly across the courtroom at Mr. Lewis. “Chanel Lewis. Murderer. Killer.” |
| Mr. Leventhal described Mr. Lewis as a loner, motivated by “anger and sexual frustration.” He said the defendant often roamed the streets of Queens and Brooklyn, where he lived, and did not have a job, friends or girlfriend. | Mr. Leventhal described Mr. Lewis as a loner, motivated by “anger and sexual frustration.” He said the defendant often roamed the streets of Queens and Brooklyn, where he lived, and did not have a job, friends or girlfriend. |
| The prosecution’s case relied heavily on Mr. Lewis’s videotaped confession and DNA evidence found at the crime scene that matched his profile. Prosecutors also focused on a hand injury that Mr. Lewis suffered the same day Ms. Vetrano was murdered that was consistent with punching someone. | The prosecution’s case relied heavily on Mr. Lewis’s videotaped confession and DNA evidence found at the crime scene that matched his profile. Prosecutors also focused on a hand injury that Mr. Lewis suffered the same day Ms. Vetrano was murdered that was consistent with punching someone. |
| Mr. Leventhal said that Mr. Lewis was upset when he left his home on the day of the murder because a neighbor was playing loud music, so he went to Spring Creek Park. He had previously visited the park at least seven times. It was a place, Mr. Leventhal said, where Mr. Lewis often “went to clear his head.” | Mr. Leventhal said that Mr. Lewis was upset when he left his home on the day of the murder because a neighbor was playing loud music, so he went to Spring Creek Park. He had previously visited the park at least seven times. It was a place, Mr. Leventhal said, where Mr. Lewis often “went to clear his head.” |
| The prosecutor said Mr. Lewis attacked Ms. Vetrano as she jogged through an overgrown section of the park. Medical evidence showed Mr. Lewis repeatedly punched Ms. Vetrano, then strangled her after climbing on top of her chest and sexually abusing her, Mr. Leventhal said. | The prosecutor said Mr. Lewis attacked Ms. Vetrano as she jogged through an overgrown section of the park. Medical evidence showed Mr. Lewis repeatedly punched Ms. Vetrano, then strangled her after climbing on top of her chest and sexually abusing her, Mr. Leventhal said. |
| Mr. Leventhal said the defendant had conducted 137 web searches on his phone after the police approached him and requested a sample of his DNA, including queries for the phrases “Miranda rights” and “sacrament of penance,” a Christian rite of atonement. | Mr. Leventhal said the defendant had conducted 137 web searches on his phone after the police approached him and requested a sample of his DNA, including queries for the phrases “Miranda rights” and “sacrament of penance,” a Christian rite of atonement. |
| The defense argued that the interrogation was intense for Mr. Lewis, who was left alone for two hours in a windowless room, not given a phone call, and then put into a jail cell. | The defense argued that the interrogation was intense for Mr. Lewis, who was left alone for two hours in a windowless room, not given a phone call, and then put into a jail cell. |
| Mr. Moeller also tried to cast doubt on the DNA evidence, suggesting the crime scene had been contaminated. He said Mr. Lewis might have touched a surface that Ms. Vetrano touched at some point, and a transference of small amounts of DNA might have occurred. | Mr. Moeller also tried to cast doubt on the DNA evidence, suggesting the crime scene had been contaminated. He said Mr. Lewis might have touched a surface that Ms. Vetrano touched at some point, and a transference of small amounts of DNA might have occurred. |
| “People’s DNA can end up in places that they’ve never been,” he said. | “People’s DNA can end up in places that they’ve never been,” he said. |
| Mr. Moeller noted that Mr. Lewis, on the night he eventually confessed to the crime, had first denied to the police having anything to do with Ms. Vetrano’s death several times before he was put in a “windowless” room for several hours without being allowed to call his family. The defense lawyer also pointed out that several details in the confession were at odds with some of the findings in the autopsy. | Mr. Moeller noted that Mr. Lewis, on the night he eventually confessed to the crime, had first denied to the police having anything to do with Ms. Vetrano’s death several times before he was put in a “windowless” room for several hours without being allowed to call his family. The defense lawyer also pointed out that several details in the confession were at odds with some of the findings in the autopsy. |
| At times, Mr. Lewis, who attended a high school for students with learning disabilities, appeared confused on the videotaped confession. He occasionally mumbled through his responses. | At times, Mr. Lewis, who attended a high school for students with learning disabilities, appeared confused on the videotaped confession. He occasionally mumbled through his responses. |
| The cause of death had been ruled as strangulation, but Mr. Lewis told an investigator on the night he confessed that Ms. Vetrano had drowned in a puddle. He denied sexually assaulting Ms. Vetrano, but the victim’s body was discovered partially clothed with trauma to her vagina and rectum. | The cause of death had been ruled as strangulation, but Mr. Lewis told an investigator on the night he confessed that Ms. Vetrano had drowned in a puddle. He denied sexually assaulting Ms. Vetrano, but the victim’s body was discovered partially clothed with trauma to her vagina and rectum. |
| Finally, in closing arguments, Mr. Moeller said Mr. Lewis’s hand injury would have prevented him from throwing a phone 40 feet from the path, where the police later found it. | Finally, in closing arguments, Mr. Moeller said Mr. Lewis’s hand injury would have prevented him from throwing a phone 40 feet from the path, where the police later found it. |
| Mr. Moeller claimed the police investigation and prosecution had tried to make the evidence support their faulty theory. “The government is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.” | Mr. Moeller claimed the police investigation and prosecution had tried to make the evidence support their faulty theory. “The government is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.” |