The man accused of killing a woman sleeping on a New York City subway car by setting her on fire pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson at a court hearing on Tuesday.

NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a sleeping woman to death inside a New York City subway train is set to be arraigned Tuesday on murder and arson charges. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, will appear in Brooklyn court in connection with the killing of Debrina Kawam, 57.

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 accused of killing a woman who was sleeping on a New York City subway car by setting her on fire was indicted by a grand jury on Friday of murder and arson charges, prosecutors announced.

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.

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

A man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to burning a sleeping woman to death inside a New York City subway train. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, appeared in Brooklyn court in an orange jumpsuit and orange jacket, his hands cuffed behind

Sebastian Zapeta, the Guatemalan man accused of lighting a sleeping subway rider on fire and watching her burn to death on a Brooklyn subway car, was arraigned Tuesday.