HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) --- A woman who allegedly killed a man over unpaid sex bashed him over the head more than two dozen times after the two smoked drugs on a Harlem street, authorities said.
Sabrina Charles, 39, was arraigned Thursday on charges of murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property, according to court records.
Charles is accused of hitting Kenneth Adams in the head about 30 times with a piece of wooden furniture on Hancock Place near 125th Street in Harlem at around 4:25 p.m. on July 2, authorities said.
Police said Charles allegedly killed Adams after he refused to pay her for performing a sex act on him between two parked cars and claimed he raped her, which was later unsubstantiated, sources said.
Charles was seen on surveillance coming up from behind Adams while he was lying on the ground lighting a pipe or cigarette and attacking him, according to the criminal complaint. Police said the woman and the victim, who knew each other, were allegedly doing drugs together at the time of the incident.
Charles was found with blood on her arms while trying to hide when police arrived at the scene, according to prosecutors. She then admitted to hitting Adams with a stick.
The man suffered multiple facial fractures and died at the hospital about an hour after the incident.
Charles is also accused of stealing the victim's Medicaid and debit cards.
She pled not guilty and was held without bail at her arraignment. Her attorney could not immediately be reached Friday.
Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.
