A WOMAN broke down in tears as she was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for the unprovoked shoving of an 87-year-old Broadway voice coach.
Lauren Pazienza wept as she was caged for her part in Barbara Maier Gustern's death in Manhattan on March 10, 2022.
Who is Lauren Pazienza?
Lauren Pazienza is a former communications and events coordinator from Port Jefferson, New York.
Pazienza was also believed to live in Astoria, Queens, with her fiancé Naveen Pereira.
Prior to her arrest, she was reported to work at furniture retailer Roche Bobois.
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The company confirmed she hasn't worked for them since December 2021.
On March 22, 2023, Pazienza turned herself into the NYPD in relation to Barbara Gustern's death.
She was charged with first-degree manslaughter and two counts of second-degree assault.
On September 30, Pazienza was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years behind bars.
Manhattan state Supreme Court Judge Felicia Mennin on Friday added six months to the eight years agreed in Pazienza’s plea deal, saying she didn’t believe Pazienza was remorseful for her actions.
What happened to Barbara Gustern?
On March 10, 2022, 87-year-old Gustern was forcefully shoved by Pazienza on a Chelsea sidewalk, causing a fatal head injury.
That night, she was waiting for a taxi while en route to Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre.
While the Broadway vocal coach was trying to hail a cab, Pazianza approached her from behind and pushed her to the ground.
Gustern hit her head on the pavement, leaving a bleeding gash.
Pazienza was drunk and stoned at the time and had lashed out at her fiancée moments before.
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As she waited for medics and police to arrive, Gustern told a friend: “I’ve never been hit so hard in my life.”
The pensioner also managed to describe her attacker to police and told them the woman allegedly called her a “b***h."
As first responders rushed to the scene, the theater teacher lost consciousness.
The fall resulted in a massive hemorrhage to the left side of her brain and was put on life support.
On March 15, 2022, Gustern succumbed to her injuries, and her death was attributed to the severe brain damage she sustained from the shoving incident.
Regarding Pazienza's attack, Gustern's grandson AJ told The U.S. Sun: "What's striking to me is that a woman of privilege, or someone who seems to come from privilege, would do this.
"Notice how she didn’t go after some six foot tall, 200lb guy...she went after my 80lb grandmother.
"I have little to no forgiveness or sympathy for Lauren or her family.
"This is what happens when you don’t raise a child right and you let them get away with whatever they want their entire lives."
Where is Lauren Pazienza now?
On August 23, 2023, Pazienza pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree manslaughter.
On September 29 of the same year, she is scheduled to be sentenced to eight years in prison and five years of supervision.
Following Pazienza's guilty plea, AJ said in a statement: "Lauren, you’re extremely lucky.
"I hope you learn some empathy because apparently, you're incapable of empathy."
Pazienza issued a grovelling apology as she was jailed for nearly nine years at a Manhattan courtroom.
