Shania Twain testifies in stalking trial
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TORONTO - The trial of a man accused of stalking Canadian country star Shania Twain got off to a dramatic start Thursday when the accused interrupted testimony and declared in an outburst that he would plead guilty.
Giovanni (John) Palumbo is charged with three counts of failure to comply with a court order and criminal harassment by watching and besetting.
Appearing via video link in a Toronto courtroom, Twain testified that the former Ottawa doctor's lovelorn letters and unexpected visits at her family cottage made her feel uncomfortable.
"They were uncomfortable letters, they were very personal," Twain told court.
"They were more like love letters, not so much fan mail."
After reading from a series of letters allegedly sent by Palumbo — in which he declared his love for the Timmins, Ont., country singer again and again — Twain was asked how a specific passage made her feel.
"It makes me feel uncomfortable and it makes me also feel a little bit sad and just a bit awkward," she said.
Twain testified that she had to hire 24-hour security for an extended-family gathering at her cottage in Dwight, Ont., in 2009 because Palumbo was seen repeatedly parked in his Lamborghini down the road.
And she also alleged that Palumbo visited her brother-in-law's auto shop with a supposed car issue because he wanted to be closer to her.
"The manipulation scared me a bit," said Twain.
"I was disturbed by that."
After roughly 90 minutes of Twain's testimony, Palumbo — clad in a rumpled black suit and wire-frame glasses — abruptly stood and announced that he'd had enough.
"Eilleen, you can trust me, I'm going to plead guilty," he said, using Twain's real first name.
"I've been offended too much, your honour."
The trial is scheduled to last three days.
Giovanni (John) Palumbo is charged with three counts of failure to comply with a court order and criminal harassment by watching and besetting.
Appearing via video link in a Toronto courtroom, Twain testified that the former Ottawa doctor's lovelorn letters and unexpected visits at her family cottage made her feel uncomfortable.
"They were uncomfortable letters, they were very personal," Twain told court.
"They were more like love letters, not so much fan mail."
After reading from a series of letters allegedly sent by Palumbo — in which he declared his love for the Timmins, Ont., country singer again and again — Twain was asked how a specific passage made her feel.
"It makes me feel uncomfortable and it makes me also feel a little bit sad and just a bit awkward," she said.
Twain testified that she had to hire 24-hour security for an extended-family gathering at her cottage in Dwight, Ont., in 2009 because Palumbo was seen repeatedly parked in his Lamborghini down the road.
And she also alleged that Palumbo visited her brother-in-law's auto shop with a supposed car issue because he wanted to be closer to her.
"The manipulation scared me a bit," said Twain.
"I was disturbed by that."
After roughly 90 minutes of Twain's testimony, Palumbo — clad in a rumpled black suit and wire-frame glasses — abruptly stood and announced that he'd had enough.
"Eilleen, you can trust me, I'm going to plead guilty," he said, using Twain's real first name.
"I've been offended too much, your honour."
The trial is scheduled to last three days.
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