No Bail For Event Planner In NYC Vocal Coach's Shoving Death

New York City NY

10 May, 2022

12:10 PM

Description

NEW YORK CITY — An event planner accused of fatally shoving a famed New York City vocal coach likely will stay behind bars until her trial, court records show. A judge ordered Lauren Pazienza, 26, of Long Island, to be held without bail Tuesday during her arraignment on a manslaughter charge, according to records. Pazienza is a potential flight risk, the judge said, NBC4 first reported. The judge also cited the nature of the accusations against Pazienza — namely, that she violently shoved Barbara Maier Gustern, 87, in an unprovoked attack along a Chelsea street on March 10. Authorities believe Pazienza called Gustern a "b----" before shoving her. Gustern suffered a bloody head injury and died after several days in a hospital. The attack and death sent grief ripples of outrage and grief in the city's arts community, where Gustern was well-known as the vocal coach for "Blondie" singer Debbie Harry, "Bikini Kill" lead Kathleen Hanna, numerous Broadway shows, among many other connections. They spent days circulating photographs online of a red-haired woman who NYPD officials said had shoved Gustern. All the while, Pazienza spent days deactivating social media accounts before she surrendered to authorities. Pazienza, an event planner, had also stayed in Chelsea in the minutes following the attack, where she had a "physical altercation" with her fiancé and even watched an ambulance cart Gustern away, the New York Post reported. Prosecutors outlined security footage that showed Pazienza in the area, and traced the path she and her fiancé took to their luxury Astoria building, according to NBC4. Pazienza's attorney Arthur Aidala argued during the arraignment that the evidence is "not very solid" whether Gustern was pushed, shoved, kicked or tripped, NBC4 reported. He also claimed there's no evidence Pazienza watched Gustern lying on the street, according to the report.