Details Emerge in Domestic Violence Death of Jazz Musician Lawrence Leathers

Two people have been arraigned on manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges in the June death of Grammy-winning jazz musician Lawrence Leathers.

The musician’s girlfriend, Lisa Harris, and her friend, Sterling Aguilar, were arraigned Thursday in Bronx Supreme Court, the New York Daily News reported.

Leathers was killed on June 2 during an argument with Harris, 41, at their Bronx apartment, according to local authorities.

Prosecutors said Thursday that 29-year-old Aguilar joined the fight and grabbed Leathers in a chokehold for about 30 minutes. Harris allegedly sat on the musician’s chest and repeatedly punched him while Aguilar choked him.

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An autopsy determined Leathers died of homicidal asphyxia with compression to the neck.

Prosecutors said Aguilar squeezed his neck so tightly that bones broke. Once Leathers fell unconscious, Harris is alleged to have dumped his body in the stairwell of their building.

Bail was set for both suspects at $5,000 bond or $3,000 cash.

Leathers, 37, was born in a Lansing, Michigan and moved to New York to attend Juilliard.

He launched a music career playing the drums, and went on to win two Grammys with the Aaron Diehl Trio for backing jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant on the albums Dreams and Daggers and For One to Love.