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Braunstein trial set to begin By Albert Amateau The trial of Peter Braunstein, charged with arson, posing as a firefighter, and sexually abusing and imprisoning a woman in her Chelsea apartment on Halloween, 2005, is scheduled to begin April 22 with jury selection. State Supreme Court Justice James Yates ruled on April 18 that Braunstein, 43, was physically and mentally able to assist in his own defense despite skull fractures sustained while being held in Rikers Island. Jail officials said the injuries were self-inflicted when Braunstein banged his head against a jail cell sink. Braunstein, a writer, was charged with gaining access to the W. 24th St. apartment of his victim, 34, a former Women’s Wear Daily colleague, by setting fires in the hallway and convincing her to open the door because he was dressed as a firefighter. He bound her and held her in the apartment for 13 hours before fleeing, according to the charges. A fugitive for six weeks, he was the subject of a multi-state police alert before he was captured in Memphis, where he slashed his own neck as police closed in. He has indicated he would seek acquittal by reason of insanity.
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