Jury Selection Slated for Vetrano Murder Case

By David Brand

Jury selection is slated for late-October in the case of Chanel Lewis, the man accused of raping and killing Howard Beach resident Karina Vetrano while she was jogging in 2016.

Lewis appeared in criminal court Thursday for a decision on a motion regarding DNA discovery. Judge Michael Aloise denied the motion and set a return date for Oct. 18.

Jury selection is slated for Oct. 29.

Vetrano’s body was discovered in a marshy area near a running trail during a police search. She was scratched, bruised and partially naked. NYPD officials said she appeared to have been hit in the head, raped and strangled.

DNA was discovered under Vetrano’s fingernails, on her phone and in the brush nearby. That DNA matched that of Chanel Lewis, who was arrested in February 2017.

Lewis initially confessed to committing the crime, but defense attorneys argue that confession was coerced.