Handyman David Bonola, 44, pleaded guilty to stabbing Orsolya Gaal to death at her home in Queens, New York, after an argument, with her dismembered body later found in a holdall
Orsolya Gaal was stabbed to death at her home in Queens
A handyman has admitted stabbing to death a married ex-lover whose dismembered body was found in a gym bag.
David Bonola, 44, agreed to a 25-year sentence on the first-degree manslaughter charge when he pleaded guilty to killing Orsolya Gaal at her home in the Queens borough of New York.
The air conditioning repairman withdrew an earlier plea of not guilty to Queens Criminal Court for killing Ms Gaal, 51, after going to her home at 12.30am on Saturday April 16 this year.
Bonola, who had worked at the home on various occasions, had entered the house after Mrs Gaal had returned from a night out.
“Bonola and the victim were in an argument when the defendant slit Gaal’s throat and stabbed her more than 50 times,” Queens prosecutors said in a statement.
David Bonola, 44, agreed to a 25-year sentence for first-degree manslaughter(
Bonola changed his plea to guilty in Queens Criminal Court(
“Hours later, around 4:15 a.m., Bonola is captured on security video surveillance footage of a nearby home carrying a hockey duffel bag belonging to one of the victim’s sons. The bag containing Gaal’s dismembered body was found around 8:00 a.m. on Metropolitan Avenue, near the Union Turnpike, near Forest Park.
“Police were able to follow the trail of blood from the bag to the scene of the crime – the house on Juno Street where the victim lived with her husband and two sons.
“During the ensuing investigation, police recovered the murder weapon hidden in the victim’s home and the defendant’s jacket in Forest Park.”
The defendant allegedly claimed he killed his former lover because he believed she had infected him with HIV during their two-year affair, the New York Post reported.
Ms Gaal’s dismembered body was found in a gym bag(
The district attorney’s office also said the defendant made “incriminating statements” when questioned by police.
“Days later, the defendant offered to speak to police and made incriminating statements during questioning,” prosecutors said.
“He revealed that he went to a hospital in New York City sometime on Saturday for a cut on his hand.
Prosecutor Katz said the “heinous” crime left two boys without a mother.
She explained: “This heinous murder has devastated an entire family, left two boys without a mother and appalled the surrounding community.
“I would like to thank my prosecutors for their extensive efforts to enforce this plea. With his guilty plea, the accused has accepted responsibility and will be held fully accountable for his criminal acts.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the family of the victim and hope today’s request will enable them to begin healing.”
