Jamaican American Gets Life for Sexual Assault, Murder

NEW YORK – A judge here has sentenced a 22-year-old Jamaican American to life imprisonment without parole after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting and murdering a woman in Queens three years ago.

Queens Criminal Court Judge Michael Aloise sentenced Chanel Lewis, whose parents are immigrants from Jamaica, for sexually assaulting and murdering Karina Vetrano near her home in the Howard Beach section of Queens in 2016. Prosecutors said Vetrano, 30, was attacked while jogging at a park near her home.

In a second trial, Lewis was found guilty for the crimes. His first trial ended in a hung jury. Lewis told the court that he did not commit the crimes.

“I’m innocent,” he said. “I’m sorry for the family’s loss, but I didn’t do this.”

His lawyers plan to appeal the sentence.