( CNN ) The Queens , New York , district attorney called it `` every subway commuter 's worst nightmare . '' A man waiting for a train was pushed off the subway platform into the path of an arriving train on December 27 , 2012 . He died instantly . Erika Menendez of Queens , was charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime . Menendez told authorities she `` pushed a Muslim off the train tracks '' because she 'd hated Hindus and Muslims ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks , according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown . Menendez , 33 , was allowed Friday to plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter , Brown said in a statement . The judge indicated he would sentence her to 22 to 25 years in prison on April 29 . Conviction on the original charge would have resulted in a tougher sentence -- 25 years to life imprisonment , Meris Campbell , spokeswoman for the district attorney 's office , said Saturday . The district attorney 's office accepted the plea because Menendez promised not to appeal and because of Menendez 's `` substantial psychiatric history and serious drug problem , '' Campbell said . `` We are assured she 'll serve a substantial amount of time behind bars . '' The victim , Sunando Sen , 46 , was not Muslim . A friend told CNN he grew up in a Hindu family . The incident happened at night at the 40 Street-Lowery Street station in Sunnyside , Queens . Witnesses told police a woman paced the platform and talked to herself before pushing Sen as the 11-car train entered the station . Security video showed a woman running from the scene . Menendez was recognized on a street in Brooklyn by a passerby who had seen the video and called 911 , police said . `` The defendant is accused of committing what is every subway commuter 's worst nightmare -- being suddenly and senselessly pushed into the path of an oncoming train , '' Brown said Friday . `` The victim was allegedly shoved from behind and had no chance to defend himself . '' A call and email to Menendez 's defense lawyer were not immediately returned Saturday . CNN 's Vivian Kuo contributed to this report .
Man was pushed into the path of subway train in Queens in December 27 , 2012 . Woman originally charged with murder as a hate crime pleaded guilty to manslaughter .