A Long Island woman pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges Wednesday for fatally pushing a beloved Broadway singing coach Barbara Maier Gusternon in an unprovoked attack on a Chelsea sidewalk last year.
Lauren Pazienza, 27, a former event planner for upscale furniture store Roche Bobois, ambushed the 87-year-old Gustern on March 10, 2022, approaching her at W. 28th St. near Eighth Ave. and forcefully shoving her to the ground.
Pazienza dodged a trial by pleading guilty to one count of manslaughter in Manhattan Supreme Court. Pazienza, who has no criminal record, will serve eight years for Gustern’s killing — significantly less than the 25 she risked had she lost at trial.
Gustern, whose students included Debbie Harry of Blondie and the Broadway cast of “Oklahoma,” shed light on the random assault before her injuries claimed her life. She told a friend Pazienza, who she did not know, “ran across the street,” called her a “b—h,” and pushed her.
Before the attack, Pazienza had knocked back several glasses of wine with her fiancé after touring art galleries to celebrate 100 days until their wedding, according to court filings in the case.
Pazienza spent the next 11 days on the lam at her parent’s home on Long Island after the killing. She deleted her social media accounts and wedding website.
Pazienza has been awaiting trial at Rikers since her $500,000 bail was revoked when a judge decided she wasf flight risk. She will serve five years post-release supervision.
This story will be updated.
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