Lauren Pazienza, woman charged in death of 87-year-old singing coach Barbara Gustern, was upset before fatal shove, prosecutor says
CBSN
A woman charged in the death of an 87-year-old Broadway singing coach in Manhattan pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and assault charges Tuesday and was detained after a judge revoked her $500,000 bail. Lauren Pazienza, 26, appeared before a judge as a prosecutor disclosed new details of the events leading up to the attack on Barbara Gustern.
Gustern suffered a head injury after being shoved to the ground on West 23rd Street in the Chelsea neighborhood on March 10 and died five days later.
Assistant District Attorney Justin McNabney said Pazienza became upset on the night of March 10 after she and her fiance were told to leave Chelsea Park, where they were eating meals from a food cart, because the park was closing soon. Pazienza stormed off, encountered Gustern while walking away and pushed Gustern to the ground, McNabney said.
