An undocumented immigrant accused of setting a woman on fire as she slept on a Brooklyn subway train was formally charged in court Friday morning with murder and arson.
Sebastián Zapeta Khalil, 33, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was charged with first- and second-degree murder and one count of arson in Sunday's horrific slaying on the F train and waived court.
Authorities said the suspect, who suffered severe burns but has not yet been identified, allegedly approached a sleeping woman and ignited her clothes, causing the woman to fan the flames and appear to engulf her. There was also footage of the incident.
Zapetakalil will be formally arraigned in state Supreme Court on January 7, when the full indictment will be made public.
Zapeta Khalil, who was described as a heavy drinker by fellow homeless shelter workers, told police she was drunk the morning of the incident and did not remember what happened.
