NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Lauren Pazienza, the 26-year-old woman facing manslaughter and assault charges in the fatal shoving of an 87-year-old voice coach in Manhattan earlier this year, was denied another bid for bail on Tuesday.
A four-judge panel of the Appellate Division First Department in Manhattan unanimously rejected a request by her lawyers to have her previous $500,000 bail reinstated, Newsday reported.
The panel's decision was offered in a one-sentence opinion, reportedly saying it was turning down the request and noting that an earlier effort to get bail was "properly denied."
"We are exploring all options," said defense attorney Arthur Aidala, in response to the outlet asking what other legal maneuvers are being sought.
Pazienza was formally indicted in May, when a Manhattan judge revoked her $500,000 bail, finding the event planner was a "serious flight risk."
State Supreme Court Justice Ellen Biben declined to overturn the ruling of state Supreme Court Justice Felicia Mennin, noting that her ruling had a "rational basis."
Pazienza has remained in custody on Rikers Island since then, according to the report.
Aidala had argued to the appellate court that Pazienza waited 12 days after the March 10 deadly shoving in Chelsea because she was trying to secure a defense attorney to help her surrender and not flee.
Pazienza pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault.
Aidala alleged to the appeals court that the media frenzy over the case had an effect on the high charges and the bail revocation.
According to prosecutors, Pazienza had several “several glasses of wine” with her fiancé on the night of March 10 as the two toured art galleries in Chelsea and celebrated their upcoming wedding.
The couple was eating at Chelsea Park when a city Parks Department employee asked them to leave.
"The defendant became angry, started cursing at the park employee, threw her food on to her fiancé," said assistant D.A. Justin McNabney at her May 10 arraignment.
Prosecutors said Pazienza crossed W. 28th Street, near Eighth Avenue, around 8:30 p.m. and shouted obscenities at Gustern before shoving her to the ground. The two did not know each other.
Gustern fell and hit her head, causing massive hemorrhage to the left side of her brain. Pazienza walked away, leaving the octogenarian on the ground bleeding, prosecutors allege.
Gustern, whose clients included celebrities like Debbie Harry of Blondie, died at a hospital five days later on March 15 after she was removed from life support.
Prosecutors allege Pazienza stayed in the area of the attack for 20 minutes and that video footage shows her in a “physical altercation” with her fiancé as the ambulance arrived.
Pazienza then took the subway back to the couple’s apartment in Astoria and admitted to her fiancé later that night that she pushed Gustern, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors allege Pazienza tried to avoid being captured by deleting her social media accounts and wedding registry. She went to her parents' home in Suffolk County on March 16 but ultimately surrendered to the NYPD on March 22.
Pazienza faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. No trial date has been set at this time.
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