The judge cited Lauren Pazienza’s “inability to take responsibility for her actions” for sentencing her to eight and a half years in prison
Lauren Pazienza was sentenced Friday to 8 1/2 years in state prison after pushing 87-year-old singer Barbara Gustern to her death last year, according to multiple media outlets including New York Post and News.
On August 23, a New York woman pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter and agreed to serve eight years in state prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
During Friday’s hearing, the event organizer changed her account of the incident while being questioned by Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Justin McNabney. Judge Felicia Mennin then added an additional six months to her sentence, citing Pazienza’s “inability to take responsibility for her actions,” reports New York Post.
Pazienza spoke briefly, first apologizing before her lawyer, Arthur Aidala, urged her to say more, reports Fast.
“I should never have pushed anyone and I’m very sorry,” Pazienza said, verbatim Fast. “I wish I could take it back, but God doesn’t turn back the clock. I’m so sorry.”
Barbara Maier Gustern, vocal coach from New York. Barbara Maier Gustern/FaceBook Woman surrenders after allegedly pushing Broadway Vocal Coach to the ground in NYC, leading to her death
Last March, Pazienza and her fiance toured art galleries in Chelsea, and after a few glasses of wine, they headed to Chelsea Park. After the park employee told the couple that the park was closing, the convict cursed, shouted, threw food at her fiancé and left the park.
She then headed toward 28th Street, where prosecutors said she spotted Barbara Gustern, he reports Gothamist.
Prosecutors said Gustern was simply walking down the sidewalk last March when Pazienza called her a “b—-” and intentionally pushed the octogenarian, PEOPLE reported. However, on Friday Paziena denied calling Gusternt when questioned by McNabney.
Gustern fell after being pushed and suffered multiple injuries. She fell into a coma and died five days later.
The event organizer allegedly drank several glasses of wine before pushing the Broadway singer to her death
After the fatal incident, “Pazienza left as a beloved New Yorker lay bleeding,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Brigg said last month when he announced Pazienza’s plea deal. “[The] event planner, remained in the area for approximately 20 minutes before taking the subway back to her apartment in Astoria, Queens.”
When the New Yorker returned home, she told her fiance that she had pushed someone. She then deleted her social media accounts and took down her wedding website, the district attorney said. And she ended up fleeing to Long Island to stay with her parents, PEOPLE previously reported.
On March 15, 2022, the day Gustern died, Pazienza turned herself in to authorities.
During a press conference where NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig confirmed that Gusternova had died from her injuries, he described the incident as a “disgusting and disgraceful crime committed against a vulnerable, elderly woman who was just walking the streets of NYC.”
“Today, at 11:15 a.m., we lost one of the brightest little flames to ever grace this world,” Gustern’s family wrote in a Facebook post after her death. “I ask that you all give me some 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 The New York Daily News.
Want to keep up with the latest crime reports? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for the latest crime news, coverage of ongoing trials and details on intriguing unsolved cases.During Pazienza’s sentencing, AJ spoke directly with the convict. “It just doesn’t seem like she might even be capable of accepting responsibility,” he said. “My grandmother felt safe in this town—even late at night—and you ruined that.”
According to Gustern, he was a prominent member of the New York art community The New York Times. Gustern worked on the 2019 Broadway revival Oklahoma! in which Tony Award winner Ali Stroker was a guest, as well as in the 2008 musical Passing Strange.
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