Overview

• Galina Smirnova, 95, pleaded not guilty at her Brooklyn arraignment and is being held without bail at Rikers, with a court date set for Tuesday.
• Victim Nina Kravtsov, 89, a Holocaust survivor, died of blunt force trauma after being found unresponsive with severe head and facial injuries.
• A wheelchair foot pedal was recovered with blood on it, a witness reported seeing Smirnova washing her hands, and surveillance showed no one else entered the room during the critical hour.
• According to the family’s attorney, Smirnova has dementia, had been at the facility for about 48 hours, and was roomed with Kravtsov because both spoke Russian.
• Kravtsov’s family plans civil action against Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center as police and prosecutorial investigations continue.