The man accused of killing a woman sleeping on a New York City subway car by setting her on fire after what prosecutors say was a night of heavy drinking pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson at a court hearing on Tuesday.

NEW YORK — A man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to burning a sleeping woman to death inside a New York City subway train. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was arraigned on murder and arson charges in Brooklyn court in connection with the killing of Debrina Kawam, 57.

Officials identified the woman who was burned to death inside a New York City subway train on Dec. 22 as 57-year-old Debrina Kawam.

The New York City Police Department identified the sleeping woman a man set on fire while aboard the subway last week. Debrina Kawam, 57, had recently moved to New York City from Toms River, a township on the Jersey Shore. She had a “brief stint” in the city’s homeless shelter system, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

The man charged with burning a woman to death on a New York City subway train pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and arson charges.

New Jersey woman Debrina Kawam was burned to death on the subway. Posts sharing an AI-generated photo misidentified the victim as Amelia Carter.

Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of setting a woman on fire on the NYC subway, pleads not guilty in the death of Debrina Kawam.

Despite previously confirming his identity in surveillance footage, Sebastian Zapeta pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson.

The suspect is accused of setting a sleeping woman's clothes on fire, using his shirt to fan the flames and then sitting on a platform bench nearby.