NY woman pleads not guilty to murder in daughter’s killing in college campus apartment
By APWednesday, March 24, 2010
NY woman pleads not guilty to strangling daughter
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A woman who allegedly told police she strangled her daughter because the young woman was disrespectful pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder.
Stacey Pagli, 38, stood silent, looking haggard in handcuffs and a gray sweat suit, during a brief appearance in Westchester County Court. Her husband, who shouted angrily at her during an earlier court hearing, did not attend the arraignment.
Pagli is charged with killing 18-year-old Marissa Pagli on Feb. 22 in their staff apartment on the campus of Manhattanville College in Purchase. Marissa was a freshman at the school and her father is a maintenance supervisor.
In court papers released last week, police quoted Stacey Pagli as saying her daughter was “disrespectful all the time” and the strangling occurred after “she pushed my last button.”
She said she attempted suicide after the killing by cutting her wrist and trying to hang herself. She is on suicide watch at the county jail.
Pagli did not speak at Wednesday’s session. Defense lawyer Allan Focarile entered the not guilty plea. He did not seek bail and did not say whether he plans a defense on psychiatric grounds.
State Supreme Court Justice Albert Lorenzo scheduled a hearing for April 7.
