Welcome to Murder Minute. On today's episode, Mary Quigley, but first your true crime headlines. Your True Crime Headlines.

In West Seneca, New York, a bar patron, accused of fatally pushing an 80-year-old man over a confrontation about the need to wear a mask has pleaded not guilty to

criminally negligent homicide.

On September 26th, 80-year-old Rocco Sapienza confronted 65-year-old Donald Lewinsky at Pamp's Red Zone

Bar and Grill in West Seneca because he was not wearing a mask. Lewinsky then shoved Sapienza, who fell and struck his head on the

floor. He was knocked unconscious and died of his injuries on October 1st.

In New York State, customers at bars and restaurants are required to wear face coverings when they are not seated. The owner of PAMPS did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but said in a statement

that Mr. Sapienza was, quote, a part of our Red Zone family and loved by all. Lewinsky's attorney, Barry Covert, called the death a tragedy, but said in an email to the Associated Press that he had, quote, received witness statements that make it very clear that the victim was the

aggressor. The defense attorney added that Sapienza was disgruntled for other reasons,

including that Lewinsky's son's band was playing in the parking lot,

blocking his usual parking space. He was disgruntled that he could hear the music inside,

Covert said, and he was unhappy that my client and other people

were bringing tables and chairs from inside the bar outside to the patrons who were

enjoying the band in the parking lot. Lewinsky was wearing a neck gator as a face

covering, but failed to raise it over his nose and mouth when he came back and forth inside

the bar, Covert said, but the lawyer added that Lewinsky, when asked to put his mask on, quote, did so readily.

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn said that surveillance video showed the two men sitting alone at different sections of the bar.

Mr. Lewinsky got up a few times, including to bring a round of drinks outside the bar area.

Each time he was not wearing a mask.

The video shows the bar owner went up to Mr. Lewinsky and spoke with him for about a minute

before Mr Sapienza put his mask on and approached them.

Quote out of the blue Mr Lewinsky two-hand shoves Mr. Sapienza, Flynn said.

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