Harlem man who killed ex in brutal stabbing sentenced: DA

Fernando Munera, who attacked and killed his ex-girlfriend with a knife, in 2021, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

June 24, 2024, 11:04 a.m. EDT

HARLEM, New York — The man accused of attacking and killing his ex-girlfriend in a case described as a “brutal domestic violence murder” in East Harlem will spend the next 25 years of his life behind bars, officials said. those responsible.

Fernando Munera, 29, was charged with murder and burglary for the horrific attack on his ex-girlfriend, Alayna Hardy, 27, in her East Harlem apartment in May 2021, according to officials.

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“Alayna Hardy was a young woman loved by her friends and family,” Manhattan District Attorney Bragg said in a statement. “Her life was tragically cut short by this brutal and frightening murder committed by her ex-boyfriend.”

Bragg confirmed Thursday that Munera was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

“No family should ever have to suffer such a terrible loss and my thoughts are with those who continue to mourn Mrs. Hardy,” Bragg said. “I hope this conviction and sentence sends a clear message that we will always seek to hold fully accountable anyone who commits this type of horrific violence.”

Prosecutors said that before the killing, Munera and Hardy had been in an unstable relationship for nine months and lived in the same apartment building on different floors.

After a February 2021 incident in which Munera restrained Hardy, threw glass bottles at her while she was curled up on her bed, and damaged items around her apartment, breaking two interior doors, a protection order was issued ordering Munera to stay away. her.

Despite the restraining order, Munera and Hardy continued to see each other, with Munera escalating his emotional abuse, prosecutors said. He attempted to control Hardy by constantly calling her, sending her unwanted text messages and dictating how she should dress, even when she was on vacation.

The weekend before the killing, Munera called her more than 80 times, authorities said.

On May 19, 2021, the day of the murder, Munera and Hardy had an early morning argument, leading to Hardy locking Munera out of his apartment. Police reported that after Munera tried unsuccessfully to force his way into the apartment, he climbed a fence at the rear of the building and fled on his motorcycle.

Police reported that Munera quickly returned to the building armed with a knife and an air gun, climbed the fire escape to Hardy's fourth-floor apartment and entered through an open window. .

There, he brutally attacked Hardy, stabbing her seven times, including in the neck, as well as cutting and biting her.

After the attack, Munera chased Hardy out of the apartment as she collapsed on the floor, covered in blood, with the knife still in her hands. Prosecutors said neighbors heard Hardy's screams and called police, but she died minutes later in an ambulance en route to the hospital.

Munera, who also suffered serious knife wounds in the attack, was taken to Harlem Hospital in critical condition.

He was later arrested and charged with murder, burglary and criminal contempt, police said.