Today 33-year old Raul Barrera was arraigned on 2nd degree murder charges for allegedly murdering his girlfriend, Sarah Coit, with a kitchen knife Saturday night. It happened inside their third floor apartment at 63 Clinton Street.
According to prosecutors at today’s hearing, Barrera was on his way to Penn Station to make an escape when he called his father in Virginia for advice. Barrera’s father urged his son to turn himself in. More new information from DNA Info:
Coit’s blood-curdling screams and pleas for help prompted a pair of 911 calls about 2 a.m. Police initially responded to the building next to Coit’s, where one of the calls originated, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Monday. Police searched but could not immediately locate the victim, and only discovered her about 40 minutes later after Barrera turned himself in to police in the East Village and confessed to the killing, Kelly explained… Police found an arsenal of eight knives inside the apartment… Barrera’s lawyer said his client had known Coit for four years, but wasn’t sure they had dated the entire time. Attorney Paul Feinman described Barrera as “upset” and “remorseful…”It’s a horror beyond words.” The building’s superintendent explained that Barrera only moved into the Clinton Street apartment on April 1, but that he hadn’t heard any disputes between the two or received any complaints.
Barrera did not enter a plea. He’s due back in court on Friday.
