A handyman has admitted knifing to death a married ex-lover whose dismembered body was found in a sports duffle bag.
David Bonola, 44, agreed to a 25-year prison sentence for first-degree manslaughter as he pleaded guilty to killing Orsolya Gaal at her home in the Queens borough of New York.
The air conditioning repair man withdrew a previous not guilty plea at Queens Criminal Court over killing Ms Gaal, 51, after going to her home at 12.30am on Saturday, April 16, this year.
Bonola, who had done work at the home on various occasions, had entered the house after Ms Gaal returned from a night out.
“Bonola and the victim were arguing when the defendant slashed Gaal’s throat and stabbed her more than 50 times,” read a statement from the Office of Queens District Attorney.
"Hours later, at approximately 4:15am, Bonola is captured on a nearby home’s security video surveillance footage wheeling a hockey duffel bag belonging to one of the victim’s sons. The bag, containing Gaal’s dismembered body, was found at about 8:00am on Metropolitan Avenue, near Union Turnpike, in the vicinity of Forest Park.
"Police were able to follow the trail of blood from the bag to the crime scene – the Juno Street home where the victim resided with her husband and two sons.
"During the subsequent investigation, police recovered the murder weapon hidden in the victim’s home and the defendant’s jacket inside Forest Park.”
The defendant allegedly claimed he killed his former lover because he believed she’d given him HIV during their two-year affair, reported the New York Post.
The District Attorney’s Office also said the defendant made “incriminating statements” when interviewed by police.
“Days later, the defendant offered to speak to police and during questioning made incriminating statements," said the District Attorney's Office.
"He revealed that some time on Saturday he went to a New York City hospital for a cut on his hand. He also stated in sum and substance that he and the victim argued and confessed to stabbing her and moving her body.”
District Attorney Katz said that the "heinous" crime had left two boys without a mother.
She stated: “This heinous killing devastated an entire family, left two boys without a mother, and horrified the surrounding community.
"I want to thank my prosecutors for their exhaustive efforts in securing this plea. In pleading guilty, the defendant has accepted responsibility and is being held fully accountable for his criminal actions.
"We express our sincerest condolences to the victim’s family and hope that today’s plea will allow them to begin to heal.”
