|
|
 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Court of law Williams sisters, Davenport may testify in stalking trial
Updated: Wednesday March 28, 2001 9:30 PM
MIAMI (AP) -- Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport might be called to testify next week at the trial of a man charged with stalking Martina Hingis. The lawyer for Dubravko Rajcevic said Wednesday he wants the players to support his contention that Hingis is not emotionally distressed, as the prosecution claims, by his client's professed love for the 20-year-old Swiss star. Hingis, the No. 1 female tennis player in the world, will be a prosecution witness and is expected to testify Monday. Four men and two women were chosen for the jury Wednesday, and opening statements were set for Friday. Rajcevic, a 46-year-old Australian who was born in Croatia, is charged with one count of stalking and three counts of trespassing at the 2000 Ericsson Open on Key Biscayne near Miami. Each count carries a possible one-year sentence. Rajcevic frequently interrupted his lawyer in court before jury selection began Wednesday. "You're going to have to control that impulse when you're in front of the jury," Judge Kevin Emas said. Rajcevic has been in jail for a year, unable to post $2 million bond and unwilling to promise to stay away from his avowed love interest in exchange for his freedom. Rajcevic has sent love letters and flowers to Hingis and wants a romantic relationship with her. Three psychologists who evaluated him last July found him delusional about Hingis but mentally competent to stand trial. Hingis and Davenport are to appear in person after completing play in the 2001 Ericsson Open. The finals are this weekend. The Williams sisters plan to go to Europe after the tournament. Frank Abrams, the lawyer for Rajcevic, said they would appear by closed-circuit TV from Europe if called to testify, provided arrangements can be made. Emas said he had received a letter from a lawyer representing the Williams sisters, asking that their subpoenas be quashed. Fifteen of 40 prospective jurors said they were aware of the case. Nine were quickly excused, including two who mentioned other cases of celebrity stalking. Opening statements were set for Friday. Hingis was expected to take the stand Monday, and the judge said the trial should finish next week.
| ||||||||||||||||
