NEW YORK (Reuters) - 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.

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.

Authorities previously said they were using forensics and video surveillance to identify the victim, who burned to death on a subway car in Brooklyn. The man accused of lighting her on fire, Sebastian Zapeta, was taken into custody hours after police disseminated images of a suspect.

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.

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,

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,

The man accused of setting a woman on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn is expected back in court on Tuesday. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, is scheduled to be arraigned after he waived the right to his first court appearance last month.