Married violinist for world-renowned string quartet charged with choking 64-year-old woman during naked hotel rampage appears in court

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Stefan Arzberger, 42, appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court for a status conference Thursday
Azrberger, lead violinist with Leipzig String Quarter, was arrested in March on charges of attempted murder, burglary and assault
The married violinist later claimed he could not remember anything from that night - saying he was drugged and robbed by a transsexual prostitute
Arzberger is accused of bursting into 64-year-old Pamela Robinson's room at Hudson Hotel and choking her until blood vessels in her eyes popped

Published: 13:37 EST, 22 October 2015 | Updated: 16:39 EST, 22 October 2015

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A world-renowned violinist from the Leipzig String Quartet who was arrested earlier this year for allegedly strangling a naked stranger in a New York city hotel was back in court Thursday.

Stefan Arzberger, 42, appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court with his attorney, Nicholas Kaizer, of the law firm Levitt & Kaizer, for a routine control conference.

During the appearance, the parties talked about the timing of experts’ reports on psychological evaluations and toxicology exams. Arzberger is due back in court November 25.

Arzberger was arrested in March in a Manhattan hotel on charges of attempted murder, burglary, strangulation and assault after he allegedly burst into the room of a 64-year-old tourist from North Carolina while she was naked and choked her until the blood vessels in her eyes ruptured.

Back in court: Stefan Arzberger, 42, a lead violinist with the Leipzig String Quartet, appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court Thursday for a status conference in his hotel strangulation case

Arzberger was arrested in March on charges of attempted murder, burglary and assault. The musician is accused of choking a naked woman he didn't know after bursting into her hotel room

In his own defense: The 42-year-old man claimed he could not remember anything from the night of the incident, saying he was drugged and robbed by a transsexual prostitute

The incident took place at the Hudson Hotel (pictured) in Manhattan on March 27

A hotel worker who heard the woman's screams ran to her aid and pulled Arzberger off of her.

The married violinist later claimed he could not remember anything from that night, saying he had been drugged and robbed by a transsexual prostitute.

In the early morning hours of March 27, Arzberger walked through the hallway of the Hudson Hotel and began knocking on other guests' doors while claiming to be room service, the prosecution said.

When Pamela Robinson, of Asheville, North Carolina, opened her door a completely naked Arzberger allegedly pushed his way in, took her by the throat and 'violently shook her and threw her around, bashing her head into the walls and shelves of the hotel room closet', the victim's civil lawsuit claimed.

Stuck in limbo: Arzberger has been out on $100,000 bail since his arrest, but he cannot return to Germany. Pictured on the right is the musician's wife, Doreen

Sidelined: Arzberger (left) has been unable to continue touring with the Leipzig String Quartet

'I spend my time now investigating what happened that night, to find out,' the violinist told the New York Times.

'Because I have no memories. No memories at all.'

Arzberger was released on $100,000 after his arrest but his passport was seized by authorities and he has been stuck in New York since March, leaving him unable to continue touring with the Leipzig String Quartet.

The quartet was quick to defend their leading member. In a statement put out after the incident, the group claimed that Arzberger may have been slipped a drug the night before while drinking at the hotel bar.

'We have to announce that Stefan became on Sat. 26th victim of a serious crime in New York City. Things are in clearance now. At this time the lawyers do not allow to divulge more information. We feel great solidarity and hope for a sudden end of that nightmare! Stefan, we are with you!' the statement read.

Stranded in America: The 42-year-old German national has been stuck in the US since March

Doreen Arzberger, Stefan's wife, has launched an online fundraiser to help cover his legal expenses. As of Thursday afternoon, the campaign has raised nearly 44,000 euro, just shy of its 45,000 goal.

She starts her online appeal with: 'Stefan is the passioned violinist with an excellent reputation. During his US tour in March '15 he became a crime victim in New York City.'

She goes on: 'For now he is stranded in the US without income and grateful for supporters who are generously opening their homes to him.'