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<\/p>\nkarina vetrano
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Slain jogger Karina Vetrano’s friend gets death threat on Instagram
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Mom of violent killer says Vetrano family ‘broke my heart’ during court statement
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Violent fiend gets life without parole for savage killing of Karina Vetrano
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Judge rejects juror misconduct claims in Karina Vetrano case
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Nearly 40,000 people are demanding that the Queens DA\u2019s Office review the conviction of the \u201cintellectually disabled\u2019\u2019 man serving a life sentence for jogger Karina Vetrano\u2019s murder, an online petition shows.<\/p>\n
Chanel Lewis was sentenced to life without parole in April 2019 for the rape and strangulation of the 33-year-old woman in Howard Beach three years earlier \u2014 after a trial riddled with issues, the petition alleges.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe demand that [DA] Melinda Katz immediately refer Chanel Lewis\u2019 case to the Conviction Integrity Unit for investigation to reopen his case and release him on bail,\u2019\u2019 says the petition, organized by several advocacy groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder the guidelines of the CIU, investigations may be opened where there is \u2018a credible claim of actual innocence or other wrongful conviction,\u2019\u201d it says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the case of Chanel Lewis\u2019 murder conviction in the death of Katrina Vetrano, multiple factors meet that criteria, including: A history of prosecutorial misconduct on the part of prosecutor Brad Leventhal; Concerns over the use of racial profiling in Lewis\u2019 initial arrest; Mid-trial disclosure of significant scientific evidence, constituting a 240.20 violation; Credible claims by the defense that the confessions the prosecution relied upon in court were coerced by police.\u201d<\/p>\n
The petition, a copy of which was reportedly delivered to the DA\u2019s office Tuesday, adds that Katz vowed to \u201ctackle prosecutorial misconduct\u2019\u2019 when she got into office.<\/p>\n
Now, \u201cwhile Melinda Katz\u2019s office takes the time to determine how they \u2018feel\u2019 about evaluating whether they may have convicted the wrong person and violated Chanel Lewis\u2019 legal rights, Lewis is suffering,\u2019\u2019 the petition says.<\/p>\n
The con, now around age 24, has been \u201cthe victim of sexual assault while in prison,\u2019\u2019 it says.<\/p>\n
The DA\u2019s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
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Vetrano\u2019s father, Phil — who was the one to discover his daughter’s battered body among the weeds in a desolate park — declined comment.<\/p>\n
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