Shocking! Homeless woman chokes man death after stealing his wallet

A homeless woman was arrested, charged and convicted today of murder after a killing a man and stealing his wallet, prosecutors in New York said.

 "Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced that the 33-year-old transient woman has been sentenced to 17 years to life in prison for her role in the brutal beating death of a man in Astoria Park in Queens".

District Attorney Brown said: “The defendant, along with a male co-defendant, brutally attacked a 32-year-old man in the park. The victim was robbed of his wallet and viciously beaten and choked to death. This willful act of violence warranted a lengthy prison term.”

Kelly Harnett, 33, was convicted of second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, following a jury trial before Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory L. Lasak, who imposed an indeterminate sentence of 17 years to life in prison.

Harnett, along with co-defendant Thomas Donovan, attacked Ruben Angel Vargas, 32, of 11-59 Wellings Circle in Astoria, around 4:00 a.m.

The victim was choked with a shoelace, which came from defendant Harnett’s sneaker. The victim was repeatedly kicked in the head and torso, and his wallet taken as he laid motionless on the ground.

Harnett’s co-defendant Donovan pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. Right now  He is currently serving 15 years in prison.