Lauren Pazienza in court on Aug. 23.Photo:Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP
Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP
Lauren Pazienzawas sentenced to 8½ years in state prison on Friday after shoving 87-year-old vocal coachBarbara Gusternto her death last year, according to multiple outlets including theNew York PostandNewsday.
Pazienza spoke briefly, first apologizing before her lawyer, Arthur Aidala, nudged her to say more, reports thePost.
“I never should have pushed anybody, and I’m so sorry,” Pazienza said, per thePost. “I wish I could take it back but God doesn’t turn back the clocks. I’m just so sorry.”
Barbara Maier Gustern, New York City based vocal coach.Barbara Maier Gustern/FaceBook
Last March, Pazienza and her fiancé were visiting Chelsea art galleries, and after drinking several glasses of wine headed to Chelsea Park. After a park employee told the couple that the park was closing, the convict cursed, shouted, threw her food at her fiancé, and left the park.
She then headed towards 28th Street, where prosecutors say she spotted Barbara Gustern,reportsGothamist.
Prosecutors said Gustern was simply walking down the sidewalk last March when Pazienza called her a “b—-” and intentionally shoved the octogenarian, PEOPLE previouslyreported. However, on Friday, Paziena denied calling Gusternthat when McNabney questioned her.
Gustern fell after being shoved and suffered multiple injuries. She entered into a coma and died five days later.
Once the New York native returned home she told her fiancé she shoved someone. She then deleted her social media accounts and took down her wedding website, the district attorney said. And eventually fled to Long Island to stay with her parents, PEOPLE previouslyreported.
On March 15, 2022, the day Gustern died,Pazienza turned herself into the authorities.
During thepress conferencein which NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig confirmed Gustern died from her injuries, he described the incident as a “disgusting and disgraceful offense committed against a vulnerable, elderly female who was doing nothing but walking down the streets of N.Y.C.”
“Today, at 11:15 a.m., we have lost one of the brightest little flames to ever grace this world,” Gustern’s family wrote in aFacebookpost after her death. “I ask that you all give me a little time and space, but I want to make time for anyone and everyone who wants to know more about her final moments.” Gustern’s grandson AJ Maier Gustern authored the post, reports theNew York Daily News.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.During Pazienza’s sentencing, AJ spoke directly to the convict. “She just doesn’t seem like she is even maybe capable of accepting responsibility,” he said. “My baba felt safe in this city — even late at night — and you’ve ruined that.”
Gustern was a noted member of the artistic community in New York, according toThe New York Times. Gustern worked on the 2019 Broadway revival ofOklahoma!that featured Tony Award winnerAli Strokeras well as on the 2008 musicalPassing Strange.
source: people.com
