Twain has 'compassion' for stalker

SINGER Shania Twain told a court she has compassion for a man accused of stalking her, but fears that he will continue to follow her.

Giovanni Palumbo is charged with three counts of failure to comply with a court order and criminal harassment.

He pleaded not guilty earlier this week, but after listening to evidence from Canadian country star Twain, his lawyer said that his client would now plead guilty to both charges.

Lawyer Gary Barnes said that hearing Twain's heartfelt testimony stirred a revelation in Palumbo.

"He realised, 'My God, I have upset her'," Mr Barnes told reporters at the Toronto court.

funeral

The former doctor allegedly sent Twain a series of letters, made unwanted visits to her family cottage and even attended her grandmother's funeral before being arrested at a Canadian awards ceremony this year.

Before he pleaded guilty,, Mr Barnes said during Twain's cross-examination that Palumbo simply did not realise that Twain was not interested.

But Twain, appearing via video link from an undisclosed location in Europe, said: "I'm torn emotionally because I have compassion for anybody who's reaching out in need.

"I feel very sad ... and awkward having to go through these very personal matters with Mr Palumbo because it's such an invasion of his privacy."

However, Twain said nothing she heard at the trial made her feel differently about him.

"I still have the fear and anxiety of being contacted in the future by Mr Palumbo. And I do want it to stop," she said.

Palumbo has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. He has another court date on October 18 when -- depending on the outcome of the psychological evaluation -- he could be sentenced.

hnews@herald.ie