Harlem Man Who Killed Ex In Brutal Knife Attack Sentenced: DA

HARLEM, NYC — 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.

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

"Alayna Hardy was a young woman who was beloved by her friends and family," Manhattan District Attorney Bragg said in a statement. "Her life was tragically cut short by this chilling and brutal murder by her ex-boyfriend."

Bragg confirmed on Thursday that Munera has been sentenced to 25 years-to-life in state prison.

"No family should ever have to experience such a terrible loss and my thoughts are with those who continue to mourn Ms. Hardy," Bragg said. "I hope this conviction and sentence sends a clear message that we will always pursue full accountability for anyone who commits this type of horrific violence."

Prosecutors said that prior to the murder, Munera and Hardy had been in a volatile nine-month relationship and lived in the same apartment building on different floors.

After an incident in February 2021 where Munera held Hardy down, threw glass bottles at her while she was curled up on her bed, and damaged items around her apartment, breaking two interior doors, an Order of Protection was issued instructing Munera to stay away from 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 incessantly calling her, sending unwanted text messages, and dictating how she should dress, even while she was on vacation.

The weekend before the murder, 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 Hardy to lock Munera out of her apartment. Police reported that after Munera unsuccessfully tried to force his way back into the apartment, he climbed over a fence at the rear of the building and escaped on his motorcycle.

Police reported that Munera quickly returned to the building armed with a knife and an air pistol, ascended 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.

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

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

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