Man convicted of killing woman out running in New York

CTVnews 01 Apr 2019 at 23:36

World

Defendant Chanel Lewis, right, is seated at the defense table at Supreme Court in the Queens Borough of New York, on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, during the sixth day of his re-trial for the murder of Karina Vetrano, who was killed while running along a trail in a local park in August 2016. Lewis previous trial ended in a hung jury. (Charles Eckert/Newsday via AP, Pool)

Published Monday, April 1, 2019 11:50PM EDT

NEW YORK -- A man was convicted Monday of killing a woman out running near her New York City home in a case that stirred urban fears, helped change the state s DNA-investigation rules and raised questions about race and police procedures.

News stationwould appeal.

The New York Police Department said in a statement that the anonymous letter was "riddled with falsehoods and inaccuracies," the investigation was painstaking and "the evidence clearly shows that Chanel Lewis is responsible for her death."

Chief Queens Assistant District Attorney John Ryan called the case "horrifying."

Phil Vetrano found his 30-year-old daughter s body, sexually abused and strangled, in August 2016 in a park where they often went for runs together.

The attack redoubled the wariness of women who run alone, and it baffled investigators for a time. Lewis, 22, was arrested six months later.

Authorities said his DNA was found on Vetrano s neck and cellphone and in a mixture of DNA under her fingernails. His own phone contained downloaded photos of the crime scene and searches for information