What will be the public response to Sebastian Zapeta-Calil's trial verdict?
Protests in NYC • 25%
Public support for the verdict • 25%
Mixed reactions • 25%
Indifference • 25%
Media reports and public opinion polls
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil Pleads Not Guilty to Murder and Arson in Coney Island Subway Fire Involving Debrina Kawam
Jan 7, 2025, 04:21 PM
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old Guatemalan migrant, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson in a Brooklyn court on Tuesday. Zapeta-Calil is accused of setting Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old homeless woman from New Jersey, on fire while she slept on a stationary F train at Brooklyn's Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station on December 22. According to prosecutors, Zapeta-Calil used a lighter to ignite Kawam's clothing and then fanned the flames with a shirt before watching her burn from a bench on the platform. Police believe there was no prior connection between Zapeta-Calil and Kawam. Zapeta-Calil, who had been previously deported from the U.S. in 2018 and re-entered illegally, confirmed to police that he was the individual seen in surveillance footage but claimed he was intoxicated and did not remember the incident. He faces multiple counts of murder and arson, with the first-degree murder charge carrying a potential sentence of life without parole. The case has reignited discussions about safety in New York City's subway system.
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Minimal public reaction • 25%
Mixed public reaction • 25%
Positive public reaction • 25%
Negative public reaction • 25%
Guilty of all charges • 25%
Guilty of some charges • 25%
Not guilty • 25%
Mistrial • 25%
Mistrial or other outcome • 25%
Other • 25%
Guilty • 25%
Not Guilty • 25%
Acquitted of all charges • 25%
Convicted of second-degree murder • 25%
Convicted of arson only • 25%
Convicted of first-degree murder • 25%
Convicted of second-degree murder • 25%
Other outcome • 25%
Acquitted of all murder charges • 25%
Convicted of first-degree murder • 25%
Guilty of arson only • 25%
Plea deal reached • 25%
Not guilty of all charges • 25%
Mistrial • 25%
Acquitted • 25%
Convicted of lesser charges • 25%
Guilty of first-degree murder • 25%
Convicted of murder • 25%
No Protests • 25%
Other • 25%
Significant Protests • 25%
Minor Protests • 25%
Divided opinion • 25%
Majority support NGN • 25%
Majority support Prince Harry • 25%
Indifferent • 25%
Mistrial • 25%
Guilty of first-degree murder • 25%
Guilty of a lesser charge • 25%
Not guilty • 25%
Widespread protests • 25%
Minimal reaction • 25%
Public support for verdict • 25%
Mixed reactions • 25%
General acceptance • 25%
Little public reaction • 25%
Mixed reactions • 25%
Largely critical of outcome • 25%
Largely supportive of outcome • 25%
Minimal reaction • 25%
Widespread outrage • 25%
Positive • 25%
Indifferent • 25%
Mixed • 25%
Negative • 25%
Acquitted • 25%
Mistrial or other outcome • 25%
Convicted of lesser charge • 25%
Convicted of murder • 25%
Mistrial or case unresolved • 25%
Convicted of first-degree murder • 25%
Convicted of a lesser charge • 25%
Mistrial or hung jury • 25%
Mostly supportive • 25%
Indifferent • 25%
Mixed reactions • 25%
Mostly critical • 25%
No • 50%
Yes • 50%
Increased security presence • 25%
No significant changes • 25%
Enhanced public awareness campaigns • 25%
Installation of surveillance equipment • 25%