By The newspaper
Aug 23, 2023, 19:13 PM EDT
Lauren Pazienza, a 28-year-old woman accused of pushing and killing 87-year-old Barbara Gustern in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City, pleaded guilty to the charges.
The announcement was made by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. on Wednesday.
Pazienza pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree manslaughter, acknowledging his role in the fatal incident that took place on March 10, 2022.
Initially, he pleaded not guilty, but Pazienza’s change of plea carries a significant consequence. She is scheduled to be sentenced next month to eight years in state prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, prosecutors said.
The tragic incident unfolded when Pazienza had a heated encounter with Barbara Gustern. The old woman lost her life when she was pushed by Pazienza, who then left the place. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. expressed the importance of holding Pazienza accountable for his actions.
“Lauren Pazienza aggressively pushed Barbara Gustern to the ground and walked away as the beloved New Yorker lay bleeding,” Bragg said, according to CBS. “Today’s statement holds Pazienza accountable for her deadly actions.”
Barbara Gustern was a musical theater performer and vocal coach in New York.
The details provided by the prosecutors shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Pazienza had been drinking alcohol with her fiancé the night of the incident. Tensions rose and Pazienza left Chelsea Park in anger after learning of the park’s impending closure.
After this altercation, Pazienza walked across the street and directed obscenities at Gustern before physically pushing her to the ground. The force of her push caused serious injuries, including massive bleeding in the left side of Gustern’s brain.
She was subsequently rushed to a local hospital, but tragically succumbed to her injuries five days later, after life support was withdrawn.
Pazienza hung around for 20 minutes before leaving with her fiancé. It wasn’t until later that she told her partner about the attack. Additionally, Pazienza deleted her social media accounts and took down her wedding website before fleeing to her family’s home on Long Island.
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