Celebrity Realtor's assistant charged with murder

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The personal assistant of high-profile New York Realtor Linda Stein, who once managed punk rock band the Ramones, has been charged with Stein's violent murder in Manhattan 10 days ago, police said Friday.

New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said 26-year-old Natavia Lowery had made a verbal and written confession and had been charged with second degree murder.

He told a news conference Lowery said she acted after being verbally abused by the 62-year-old Stein -- dubbed "the Realtor to the stars," who was shouting at her and waving what she described as a "yoga stick," used to perform yoga movements.

"At this point Lowery said she grabbed the yoga stick from Stein's hands and struck her with it six or seven times," said Kelly.

Stein was found bludgeoned to death in her apartment on Fifth Avenue, where she lived alone, by one of her two daughters on October 30. There were no signs of a break-in.

Among the hundreds who attended her November 2 funeral were Trudie Styler, Sting's wife, and Mickey Leigh, brother of Joey Ramone, a member of the band she helped make famous.

Friends like Madonna and Elton John paid tribute to Stein in the media, recalling her brassy personality and successful battle with breast cancer.

The New York Post on Thursday reported that Elton John was planning a memorial concert for Stein, with the proceeds to go to breast cancer research.

Stein was once married to Seymour Stein, president of Sire Records and vice president of Warner Bros. Records. She co-managed the Ramones and was credited with successfully launching the band in Britain.