Man accused of fatally setting New York City subway riders on fire says he doesn’t remember the incident

The man accused of killing a New York City subway rider by setting her on fire has no memory of “what happened” and admitted drinking heavily, authorities said Tuesday.

Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen who is in the U.S. illegally, appeared before a judge in Brooklyn and was formally told he was charged with murder and arson in connection with Sunday’s gruesome attack.

The victim, who has not yet been identified, was killed while sleeping on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station.

The suspect allegedly lit them with a lighter, and as the victim burst into flames, Zapeta-Calil proceeded to “fan the flames with a shirt,” a prosecutor said.

Zapeta-Calil later told police that he “drinks a lot of alcohol” and “doesn’t know what happened,” the prosecutor added.

Zapeta-Calil used a translator to understand the court proceedings on Tuesday, and he appeared to be wearing the same white Tyvek suit he wore when New York police officers led him out of a police station for the first time in front of waiting cameras.

He did not comment in court and was not required to enter a plea.

Zapeta-Calil was held without bail and his next court date is Friday.

Although the victim has not yet been identified, the medical examiner has already determined her death was a homicide and the cause was “thermal injuries and smoke inhalation,” according to court documents.