NYU student sets sleeping girl on fire, records video while singing

A New York University (NYU) student, Jaime Castano, has been charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment after he allegedly set a female classmate on fire in his bedroom last August.

Authorities say 20-year-old Castano recorded the girl as she desperately tried to put off the fire with his mobile phone.

The victim, a 19-year-old who might also be Castano's girlfriend, suffered burns in the incident.

Quoting a criminal complaint, NBC New York the girl fell asleep on Castano's bed at about 11 p.m. on August 23, 2014.

While she was asleep, Castano set the bed on fire and proceeded to make a video of her frantic efforts to quench fire and even sang along.

NYU has been accused of not reporting the incident to the police until about two months after it happened.

The spokesman of the institution, John Beckman, said it delayed because it was waiting on the victim's decision on whether or not to inform the police as is the practice

It was only until recently that she made up her mind to involve the police.

He however admitted that the case should have been reported much earlier given the gravity of the offence.

"In retrospect, at least when the facts became clear, this case clearly should have been reported to the police, notwithstanding the reluctance of the victim," Beckman said.

"We are conducting a full investigation as to how a different decision was made in this case and clarifying our decision-making process so that cases like this are reported to the police immediately in the future."

Castano has been expelled from NYU since October and is now facing prosecution for the crime.

He made a $25,000 cash bail after appearing in court on Tuesday.