The evidence “overwhelmingly proves” that the man, Chanel Lewis, 22, is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, a prosecutor told jurors Monday.
Lewis’s first trial, five months ago, had ended with a hung jury. Some jurors were swayed by defense arguments that Lewis’ confession was coerced and that the DNA evidence was contaminated.
But Monday, at his second trial, a different jury found Lewis guilty of murdering Vetrano, after a long legal saga that had raised questions about coerced confessions, racial profiling and police practices. The jurors also found him guilty of sexually assaulting her.
The killing of Vetrano, 30, was one of the most high-profile cases in the city in recent years, jarring for its apparent randomness. The prosecution of Lewis, who lived in Brooklyn, had prompted debate over social media, and in the courtroom. Some observers said the confession and DNA evidence were proof enough of Lewis’ guilt, while others argued that prosecutors had the wrong person.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.