Today, April 1, advocates the Chanel Lewis, accused of killing a new York runner Karina Vetrano in Queens, served a petition stating that they received an anonymous letter about other possible suspects.
30-year-old Karina Vetrano went missing August 2, 2016, after she was last seen on the evening Jogging near her home in Howard beach. Her mother, Kathy Vetrano, tried to call his daughter’s mobile phone, but there was no answer. Found her half-naked body of a girl, her father, Phil Vetrano, when he helped police in the search. According to the publication News Day, usually Karina ran together with his father, but on the tragic day he could not accompany her due to back problems.
Six months after the start of the investigation, when the case was still not a suspect, one of the detectives, Lieutenant John Russo, he remembered the complaints of black man who wandered near Howard beach three months before death Vetrano. It was the 20-year-old Shanel Lewis, who was allowed to take his DNA. He later confessed to the crime.
Karina Vetrano.
However, Lewis’s lawyers claim they have new evidence in defense of the guy. According to them, on Thursday, March 28, they returned to his office and found an envelope without a return address. Inside was an anonymous letter from an alleged law enforcement source, warning lawyers about evidence that was hidden from the defense.
According to a three-page letter, after the pattern of Lewis was taken, one of the detectives, «reported Lieutenant John Russo: «He’s not a criminal. He’s too weak and stupid.»
Also, the text was alleged that the police hid key evidence during the trial. According to the unknown author of the letter, the Deputy chief of police of new York Michael Kemper «has repeatedly said at meetings that «they» inflated looking for two white guys from Howard beach.»
NYC News Defense Drops Bombshell Karina Vetrano Claim in Murder Case https://t.co/hDE2btE8Oq pic.twitter.com/d7yVVXKBf3
NYC NewsChannel (@NYC_NC) April 1, 2019
«We have received disturbing and credible information indicating that the police had concealed critical information about other potential suspects that have never been safety,» said Tina Luongo, attorney at legal aid, representing Lewis.
Earlier, the defense insisted that the DNA samples were suspicious, and Lewis admitted only under pressure from investigators who wanted to hurry to finish the job. They also argued that their client, who faces life imprisonment, his confession was just repeating the information he learned from the news about the murder. Luongo said that in the light of new data they intend to submit the petition.
