Marc
03-17-2001, 10:27 AM
I found this story in the NY Times pretty interesting (free registration is required to read it): http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-TEN-Hingis-Stalker.html
MIAMI (AP) -- A motion to release a man accused of stalking tennis star Martina Hingis at a tennis tournament last year was denied Friday.
An attorney for Dubravko Rajcevic argued that his client should be released on March 31 after one year in custody on one count of stalking and three counts of trespassing, all misdemeanors.
Attorney Frank A. Abrams argued that the counts were duplicitous since they resulted from one alleged stalking incident at last year's Ericsson Open. The maximum sentence for each count is one year in jail.
But County Judge Kevin Emas ruled that the alleged incidents took place over a three-day period and were separate. Rajcevic's trial is set to begin April 2, one day after this year's Ericsson is to end.
Hingis is playing in this year's tournament on Key Biscayne. The judge has told prosecutors that she should testify in person at the trial.
Rajcevic, 45, was arrested at last year's Ericsson after security personnel asked him to leave the tournament following a complaint by Hingis' mother.
He returned the next day and was arrested for stalking and released on $1,000 bond. Two days later, he was arrested after being spotted at the tournament. His bail was upped to $2 million and he has been in custody ever since.
Abrams also wants other top women tennis players to testify at the trial. He said at a Feb. 28 hearing that he would subpoena them when they arrived in South Florida for the tournament.
He said Friday that Monica Seles had been subpoenaed but had not yet been served. He declined to comment on the other players. Among those scheduled to compete are Seles, Lindsey Davenport, and Venus and Serena Williams.
Abrams has argued that Rajcevic, a Croatian-born engineer who is now an Australian citizen, has made no threats against the tennis player, has only sent her love letters and flowers and only wants a romantic relationship with her.
MIAMI (AP) -- A motion to release a man accused of stalking tennis star Martina Hingis at a tennis tournament last year was denied Friday.
An attorney for Dubravko Rajcevic argued that his client should be released on March 31 after one year in custody on one count of stalking and three counts of trespassing, all misdemeanors.
Attorney Frank A. Abrams argued that the counts were duplicitous since they resulted from one alleged stalking incident at last year's Ericsson Open. The maximum sentence for each count is one year in jail.
But County Judge Kevin Emas ruled that the alleged incidents took place over a three-day period and were separate. Rajcevic's trial is set to begin April 2, one day after this year's Ericsson is to end.
Hingis is playing in this year's tournament on Key Biscayne. The judge has told prosecutors that she should testify in person at the trial.
Rajcevic, 45, was arrested at last year's Ericsson after security personnel asked him to leave the tournament following a complaint by Hingis' mother.
He returned the next day and was arrested for stalking and released on $1,000 bond. Two days later, he was arrested after being spotted at the tournament. His bail was upped to $2 million and he has been in custody ever since.
Abrams also wants other top women tennis players to testify at the trial. He said at a Feb. 28 hearing that he would subpoena them when they arrived in South Florida for the tournament.
He said Friday that Monica Seles had been subpoenaed but had not yet been served. He declined to comment on the other players. Among those scheduled to compete are Seles, Lindsey Davenport, and Venus and Serena Williams.
Abrams has argued that Rajcevic, a Croatian-born engineer who is now an Australian citizen, has made no threats against the tennis player, has only sent her love letters and flowers and only wants a romantic relationship with her.