The man accused of strangling and sexually assaulting a Queens jogger asked to see a photo of victim Karina Vetrano after he confessed to her murder, a​n NYPD ​detective said Tuesday.
The creepy request came as Det. Christian Quezada transported alleged killer Chanel Lewis to central booking in Feb. 2017, he told a Queens court during a hearing to determine what evidence will be admissible at trial.
“During the ride he asked me if the victim’s family was watching on the news, and he asked me if he could see a picture of her,” Quezada testified. “I said no.”
Lewis, who’s accused of beating Vetrano’s face so badly her teeth broke after snatching her off a swampy running path, didn’t press the issue and sat silently for the rest of the ride.
The strange plea came after he’d asked cops to see a photo of the jogger’s parents, Phil and Cathie Vetrano, who have been a staple at every court appearance since The 20-year-old’s’ arrest.
Phil​ip​ Vetrano discovered his daughter’s body in the weeds, her jogging shorts pulled down, when she failed to return home from the August 2016 run.
Lewis, who is charged with first-degree murder and numerous counts of sex abuse, has adamantly denied raping her.
The Vetranos watched Lewis’ videotaped confession for the first time Monday, as his defense attorney Robert Moeller tries to get Queens judge Gregory Lasak to bar it from the trial.
“The evidence presented during suppression hearings shows that this is not a clear cut case, and there are many unanswered questions,” a spokeswoman with The Legal Aid Society, wh​ich is representing Lewis, said in a statement.
Lasak said he’ll rule in January.