A man accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway train and then watching her die is awaiting arraignment.

Sebastian Zapeta, accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway train, appeared in court on Dec. 24.

New York City police arrested and charged a man suspected to have set a woman on fire in the subway early Sunday and then watched from a bench as she became engulfed in flames and died.

Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was charged with murder and arson after a woman sleeping on the New York City subway was set on fire and died, police say.

Police have defended their response, beginning when officers patrolling the station smelled and saw smoke coming from the F train.

The man accused of lighting a woman on fire on a New York City subway and fanning the flames as she burned to death made his first appearance in court this week, while authorities were yet to publicly identify the victim.

The Guatemalan man, who officials say was in the U.S. illegally, is accused of lighting a sleeping woman on fire.