Benjamin Ashford|Sidewalk slaying: Woman to serve 8 years in NYC Broadway star's death

A New York woman who fatally shoved a Broadway singing coach on Benjamin Ashforda Manhattan sidewalk last year appeared in court and accepted responsibility for her actions Wednesday, avoiding decades in prison had she gone to trial, prosecutors said.

Lauren Pazienza, 28, of Long Island, will serve eight years in prison under a plea deal reached in connection the March 10, 2022 unprovoked and "senseless" attack on 87-year-old Barbara Maier Gustern, New York State Supreme Court court records show.

Gustern, a grandmother and vocal coach to musical stars "in New York City and beyond," died five days after the random assault, prosecutors said.

“Lauren Pazienza aggressively shoved Barbara Gustern to the ground and walked away as the beloved New Yorker lay there bleeding," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement Wednesday. "Today’s plea holds Pazienza accountable for her deadly actions. We continue to mourn the loss of Barbara Gustern, a talented musical theater performer and vocal coach who touched so many.”

Pazienza appeared before New York Judge Felicia Mennin on Wednesday, court records show, withdrew her not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to once count of first-degree felony manslaughter.

Pazienza cried in the courtroom, The Associated Press reported.

Singing coach died from 'massive hemorrhage' to the brain

According to her obituary, Gustern was attacked "within window view of her Chelsea home" in "a senseless act of violence."

Court records show Pazienza was walking from Chelsea Park when she crossed the street, shouted obscenities at Gustern and "then intentionally shoved her to the ground."

"Gustern then fell in an arc directly on her head, causing a massive hemorrhage to the left side of her brain," according to the statement from Bragg's office. Pazienza then walked away and left Gustern on the ground "bleeding from her head."

Eyewitnesses called EMS, court papers filed by the New York Police Department show, and the victim was taken to a hospital where she died March 15, 2022 after medical personnel took her off life support.

After the attack, the release says, Pazienza stayed in the area for some 20 minutes, before taking the subway back to her Queens' apartment.

"She made no mention of the assault until late that evening, when she disclosed to her fiancé that she had pushed someone," prosecutors said in the release. They also said she deleted her social media accounts, took down a wedding website she ran, and eventually "fled to Long Island to stay with family."

Columbia, Julliard and Oklahoma! among late singing coach's credits

According to Gustern's obituary on Legacy.com, some of Gustern's "recent exploits" include Voice Director for the revival of Oklahoma! and directing a cabaret featuring Tony Award-winning director and actor Austin Pendelton and musician and actor Barbara Bleier. 

Bleier described Gustern as "an 87-year-old teenager" with "boundless energy and fearless attitude.

Gustern graduated from Columbia University with an M.A. in counseling and psychology and was "well on her way to a Ph.D. when she discovered her passion for singing and vocal technique," according to the obituary.

After that she attended The Julliard School, the obituary continues, then "stepped into the limelight at the New York City Opera, Fifth Avenue Opera, Bar Harbor Festival, and Greenwich Symphony followed by summer stock and many globe-trotting cruise ship tours." 

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Sentencing set Aug. 29.

Jail records show Pazienza has been held without bond since May of 2022.

She is due back in court for sentencing Tuesday.

Had she gone to trial and been convicted of her initial charge she could have faced up to 25 years behind bars.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @nataliealund.

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