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http://www.newsmax.com/us/astronaut_arrested/2007/08/24/27284.html
Ex-Astronaut Nowak Says Sorry to Rival
Friday, August 24, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Lisa Nowak faced her romantic rival in court Friday during
a tense day in the NASA love triangle case that was capped with the
ex-astronaut apologizing to the other woman for "frightening her in any
way."
It was their first exchange of words and looks since Nowak was arrested and
charged with trying to pepper spray and kidnap Colleen Shipman after a
frantic 1,000-mile drive to confront her over their shared feelings for
another astronaut.
"The past six months have been very difficult for me, my family and others
close to me," a halting Nowak said after a five-hour hearing in which her
lawyers sought to remove the ankle bracelet that tracks her movements and
block some of the evidence collected during her arrest.
"I know that it must have also been very hard for Colleen Shipman, and I
would like her to know how very sorry I am about having frightened her in
any way and about the subsequent public harassment that has besieged all of
us."
Shipman had her attorney read a statement during the hearing and hadn't
planned to speak, but Nowak's lawyers persuaded Circuit Judge Marc L. Lubet
to make her testify.
Speaking firmly and tersely, Shipman, an Air Force captain, said she is
still afraid of Nowak and that the anklet is one of the only things that
makes her feel safe.
"When I'm home alone and there's nobody there with me, it is a comfort,"
Shipman said.
Under questioning from Nowak attorney Donald Lykkebak, Shipman acknowledged
that she had visited her boyfriend in Nowak's hometown of Houston several
times since Nowak's arrest. She didn't say if that boyfriend was space
shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein, who had a romantic relationship with both
women.
Nowak, a 44-year-old mother of three who has been dismissed by NASA, has
pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary
with assault in the February confrontation in an Orlando International
Airport parking lot.
She is free on $25,500 bail, though the tracking anklet is a condition of
her release, and the Navy captain and pilot says it's bulky, uncomfortable
and expensive, the weekly rental rate of $105 reaching $3,000 so far.
She also claims prevented her from exercising as she's required as a
military officer.
Nowak promised to abide by all court orders if the device is removed,
including not having contact with Shipman.
Assistant state attorney Pamela Davis suggested Nowak could do certain
exercises and has been able to function despite the inconvenience. She also
dismissed the anklet's expense.
"You're paying a media consultant _ fire the consultant," she told Nowak.
The judge did not rule Friday, saying another hearing will be necessary on
the anklet and other issues.
Testimony also addressed whether Nowak wore diapers to avoid stopping in
driving straight from Houston to Orlando. Astronauts use them on shuttle
missions, and that detail has made Nowak a punchline on comedy shows and
around the world.
In June, Lykkebak called it "the biggest lie in this preposterous tale," and
criticized the media for circulating the story.
Lykkebak never mentioned it Friday, but Orlando police detective William
Becton reiterated that he found three dirty diapers rolled up in a garbage
bag inside the former astronaut's BMW. He said Nowak told him she urinated
in them on the drive from Houston to Orlando to limit stops, though Becton
initially feared they were from an unattended child.
Lykkebak said the diapers were left in the car after a long-ago hurricane
evacuation.
Lykkebak said police searched Nowak's car without her permission or a
warrant. He said in additional court filings that she gave a 72-page
interview with Becton under duress _ after being held for three hours,
deprived of sleep and a phone call and not advised of her constitutional
rights. The interview persisted, Lykkebak said, despite Nowak asking at
least three times, "Should I have a lawyer?"
Lykkebak said Nowak didn't sign written forms authorizing a search and
waiving her Miranda rights. Becton, the detective, said he was relying on
the tape recording of their conversation as proof.
Becton portrayed Nowak as a crafty interview subject, comparing their
lengthy talk to a "chess game" in which the two sparred for details.
"I realized I was dealing with somebody who was more intelligent than I was,
more educated," Becton said. "I was having a very difficult time gaining any
information from her."
Nowak told detectives she and Shipman were vying for the affection of the
same space shuttle pilot and that she confronted Shipman because she wanted
to know "where she stands."
Nowak's main interest during the interview seemed to be how much Shipman
knew, he said.
"There are chunks of the interview, if not large portions, where I'm
actually the one being interviewed by her," Becton said. "She was very
calculating and methodical in the manner in which she would answer my
questions."
Ex-Astronaut Nowak Says Sorry to Rival
Friday, August 24, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Lisa Nowak faced her romantic rival in court Friday during
a tense day in the NASA love triangle case that was capped with the
ex-astronaut apologizing to the other woman for "frightening her in any
way."
It was their first exchange of words and looks since Nowak was arrested and
charged with trying to pepper spray and kidnap Colleen Shipman after a
frantic 1,000-mile drive to confront her over their shared feelings for
another astronaut.
"The past six months have been very difficult for me, my family and others
close to me," a halting Nowak said after a five-hour hearing in which her
lawyers sought to remove the ankle bracelet that tracks her movements and
block some of the evidence collected during her arrest.
"I know that it must have also been very hard for Colleen Shipman, and I
would like her to know how very sorry I am about having frightened her in
any way and about the subsequent public harassment that has besieged all of
us."
Shipman had her attorney read a statement during the hearing and hadn't
planned to speak, but Nowak's lawyers persuaded Circuit Judge Marc L. Lubet
to make her testify.
Speaking firmly and tersely, Shipman, an Air Force captain, said she is
still afraid of Nowak and that the anklet is one of the only things that
makes her feel safe.
"When I'm home alone and there's nobody there with me, it is a comfort,"
Shipman said.
Under questioning from Nowak attorney Donald Lykkebak, Shipman acknowledged
that she had visited her boyfriend in Nowak's hometown of Houston several
times since Nowak's arrest. She didn't say if that boyfriend was space
shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein, who had a romantic relationship with both
women.
Nowak, a 44-year-old mother of three who has been dismissed by NASA, has
pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary
with assault in the February confrontation in an Orlando International
Airport parking lot.
She is free on $25,500 bail, though the tracking anklet is a condition of
her release, and the Navy captain and pilot says it's bulky, uncomfortable
and expensive, the weekly rental rate of $105 reaching $3,000 so far.
She also claims prevented her from exercising as she's required as a
military officer.
Nowak promised to abide by all court orders if the device is removed,
including not having contact with Shipman.
Assistant state attorney Pamela Davis suggested Nowak could do certain
exercises and has been able to function despite the inconvenience. She also
dismissed the anklet's expense.
"You're paying a media consultant _ fire the consultant," she told Nowak.
The judge did not rule Friday, saying another hearing will be necessary on
the anklet and other issues.
Testimony also addressed whether Nowak wore diapers to avoid stopping in
driving straight from Houston to Orlando. Astronauts use them on shuttle
missions, and that detail has made Nowak a punchline on comedy shows and
around the world.
In June, Lykkebak called it "the biggest lie in this preposterous tale," and
criticized the media for circulating the story.
Lykkebak never mentioned it Friday, but Orlando police detective William
Becton reiterated that he found three dirty diapers rolled up in a garbage
bag inside the former astronaut's BMW. He said Nowak told him she urinated
in them on the drive from Houston to Orlando to limit stops, though Becton
initially feared they were from an unattended child.
Lykkebak said the diapers were left in the car after a long-ago hurricane
evacuation.
Lykkebak said police searched Nowak's car without her permission or a
warrant. He said in additional court filings that she gave a 72-page
interview with Becton under duress _ after being held for three hours,
deprived of sleep and a phone call and not advised of her constitutional
rights. The interview persisted, Lykkebak said, despite Nowak asking at
least three times, "Should I have a lawyer?"
Lykkebak said Nowak didn't sign written forms authorizing a search and
waiving her Miranda rights. Becton, the detective, said he was relying on
the tape recording of their conversation as proof.
Becton portrayed Nowak as a crafty interview subject, comparing their
lengthy talk to a "chess game" in which the two sparred for details.
"I realized I was dealing with somebody who was more intelligent than I was,
more educated," Becton said. "I was having a very difficult time gaining any
information from her."
Nowak told detectives she and Shipman were vying for the affection of the
same space shuttle pilot and that she confronted Shipman because she wanted
to know "where she stands."
Nowak's main interest during the interview seemed to be how much Shipman
knew, he said.
"There are chunks of the interview, if not large portions, where I'm
actually the one being interviewed by her," Becton said. "She was very
calculating and methodical in the manner in which she would answer my
questions."
