(Plea Deal) State of FL v Astronaut Lisa Nowak...... Trial date set: Dec 6, 2009.

[chambord]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/

[awakening2lite]

Trial date could soon be set for Nowak trial

Friday, February 06, 2009 | 6:35 PM

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A trial date could soon be set in Lisa Nowak's trial. She's a former astronaut accused of driving from Houston to Florida to confront a perceived romantic rival.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6645819

[awakening2lite]

Evidence in car OK for Nowak trial

February 7, 2009

Without comment, the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach ruled that items found in former astronaut Lisa Nowak's car will be allowed into evidence at her trial on charges of attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary with assault.

The court ruled this week on the challenge filed by Nowak's attorney, Donald Lykkebak.His challenge came after a three-judge 5th District Court of Appeal panel ruled in November that Nowak's statement to police would be thrown out, but the car evidence would remain.

In essence, the court stood by its decision that Orlando Police Detective Chris Becton would have found Nowak's car without her help and, thus, the evidence also.

Prosecutors say the former astronaut and current U.S. Navy test pilot drove more than 900 miles from Houston to Orlando International Airport to confront Colleen Shipman about their mutual love interest, former astronaut U.S. Navy Cmdr. William Oefelein.Shipman serves as a U.S. Air Force captain, and was stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Police say Nowak admitted to them that she pepper-sprayed Shipman after Shipman got into her car in the airport's Blue Lot in the early-morning hours of Feb. 5, 2007.

"It's not surprising to me that this rehearing request was denied," said Shipman's attorney, Kepler Funk.

"It appears as though the judge's order and the appellate court's decision (were) very thorough.

"Nowak has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, repeatedly telling police that all she wanted to do was talk to Shipman.Nowak and Oefelein both were fired as astronauts following the incident, but remain in the U.S. military.

A trial date now can be scheduled following the latest ruling.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090207/NEWS01/902070322/1006/news01

[awakening2lite]

2/16/09

EXCERPT

While Nowak's trial has not been scheduled, much has changed for Nowak, Oefelein and Shipman in the past two years.
For example:

Astronaut firings: Nowak and Oefelein both were fired from NASA following the incident.In addition, NASA overhauled its psychological screening for the astronaut corps.

Nowak's status: Nowak remains in the Navy, serving as a captain in flight training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas, about an hour's drive from her home in Houston.At the time of the incident, Nowak, now 44, and her husband, Richard, were separated. The couple divorced last summer.Lisa Nowak has primary custody of their children, a teenage son and twin daughters.Nowak's attorney, Donald Lykkebak, declined through a spokesperson to comment.

Oefelein's and Shipman's status: Military officials confirmed that Oefelein, 43, and Shipman, 32, both have left active duty.Oefelein's attorney, Victor Kelly, said all three could have been tried in military court for actions unbecoming to an officer.

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009902160317

[awakening2lite]

03/03.09

Nowak pretrial hearing set



Orange County Circuit Court officials scheduled a pretrial hearing in the case of former astronaut Lisa Nowak.

Judge Marc Lubet will preside over a status hearing in the case at 9:30 a.m. June 22.


Prosecutor Pam Davis and defense attorney Donald Lykkebak are expected to report to the judge their readiness for the trial to begin.


Nowak is charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and attempted burglary with assault.


Authorities said Nowak drove from Houston to Orlando International Airport in February 2007 to confront Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman about their mutual love interest, then-astronaut Bill Oefelein. Shipman was returning from a trip to visit Oefelein.


Investigators said Nowak, a Navy captain, confessed to pepper-spraying Shipman while asking to get into her car at about 3 a.m. in the airport's blue parking lot.


Nowak allegedly told a detective pepper-spraying Shipman was "stupid."


Lubet disallowed Nowak's statement to police, as well as evidence found in her car, to be used at trial.


The state appealed that decision.


In December, the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach upheld excluding Nowak's statement, but allowed back into the case evidence found in her car, which included Internet maps from Houston to Orlando International Airport, a hand-drawn map to Shipman's house and a letter from Nowak to Oefelein's mother.


Nowak and Oefelein, a U.S. Navy commander, both were fired from NASA as astronauts following the incident. In addition, NASA overhauled its psychological screening for the astronaut corps.


Nowak remains in the U.S. Navy, serving as a captain in flight training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas.


Oefelein and Shipman left the military, and records show they possibly are living together in Alaska.

"We're just glad things are moving along, and hopefully we'll get some resolution soon," said Shipman's attorney, Kepler Funk.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090303/NEWS01/903030320/1006/news01

[awakening2lite]

Lisa Nowak Withdraws Insanity Plea

Friday May 15, 2009
http://z.about.com/d/crime/1/0/N/R/nowak.jpg Former astronaut Lisa Nowak has withdrawn her notice that she would seek an insanity defense in the case in which she is charged with stalking a romantic rival across the country. She is facing charges of attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary with assault against her romantic rival Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman. Nowak's attorney's office said the insanity defense is no longer under consideration.
Under Florida law, Nowak had to file notice that she intended to use an insanity defense. That notice was filed last year to preserve her right to do so. But now, that notice has been withdrawn.
The decision comes after a an appeals court ruled that statements made to police by Nowak during a rambling, six-hour interview after her arrest cannot be used (http://crime.about.com/b/2008/12/08/diaper-evidence-allowed-in-astronauts-case.htm) at her trial.
The charges stem from a confrontation between Nowak and Shipman in the parking lot of the Orlando International Airport in February 2007. Investigators said Nowak drove non-stop from Houston to Orlando to confront Shipman, who was dating former space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein.
Authorities said Nowak wore adult diapers during the cross-country drive so that she wouldn't have to stop, but Nowak's attorneys have adamantly denied that claim.
Some observers believe the move to withdraw notice seeking an insanity defense may signal that a plea agreement may be in the works in the case.


http://crime.about.com/b/2009/05/15/lisa-nowak-withdraws-insanity-plea.htm


Pre-trial hearing is set for June 22nd.

[texanne]

The sad thing about this incident is how a woman can be so bright, so successful and yet be a complete idiot when it comes to a man. Three careers possibly ruined over romantic relationships that went awry.

[SavannahStar]

The sad thing about this incident is how a woman can be so bright, so successful and yet be a complete idiot when it comes to a man. Three careers possibly ruined over romantic relationships that went awry.

That really IS the bottom line, texanne!!!! :hifive:

Maybe I should feel sorry for these people but I sure don't.

DUMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[awakening2lite]

Nowak's court hearing delayed for four days








BY KIMBERLY C MOORE • FLORIDA TODAY • June 12, 2009


Because of a scheduling conflict, the status hearing set for June 22 in the case of former astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak has been reset to 1:30 p.m. June 26.



Nowak is charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and attempted burglary with assault charges.


Investigators allege that Nowak drove 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando International Airport to stalk and attack a love rival in the airport's blue parking lot on Feb. 5, 2007.


Nowak also carried with her a duffel bag. Inside were a BB pistol, a 4-inch hunting knife, a rubber mallet, garbage bags, latex gloves and surgical tubing. A receipt found in the bag shows Nowak bought some of the items at a Sports Authority the day she left Houston to travel to Orlando.


Nowak told detectives she only wanted to talk with Colleen Shipman and had brought the items as a way to force Shipman to sit with her. Both women were vying for the affection of astronaut William Oefelein.


NASA fired both Nowak and Oefelein following the incident.


At the time of the incident, Nowak recently had separated from her husband, Richard. She never spoke to her friends or peers about her relationship with Oefelein, who divorced his wife in 2006.


Nowak has since divorced her husband.


Oefelein and Shipman live together in Anchorage, Alaska, and run a freelance adventure writing site on the Internet.


Nowak remains under court order to stay away from the couple.


The June 26 hearing will be held in the Orange County Courthouse, Courtroom 7A, before 9th Judicial Circuit Judge Marc Lubet.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090612/NEWS02/906120320/1006/NEWS01/Nowak+s+court+hearing+delayed+for+four+days

[awakening2lite]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2007-09/32662464.jpg

Lisa Nowak listens during the hearing. On the left is Cheney Mason, who was assisting Nowak's attorney, Donald Lykkebak.


Lisa Nowak, former astronaut, set for trial in December
Hearing delayed for former astronaut Lisa Nowak

Friday hearing pushed back to November

Rene Stutzman |Sentinel Staff Writer11:25 AM EDT, June 24, 2009
EXCERPT

Attorneys in the case were to appear before Circuit Judge Marc Lubet in Orlando Friday for a pretrial conference.

But Lubet on Tuesday signed an order, delaying that until Nov. 10. He also set Nowak's trial for Dec. 7.

How Nowak intends to defend herself is not clear. Last month, her attorney, Don Lykkebak, abandoned an insanity defense.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-nowak-astronaut-diapers-062409,0,3044674.story

[sunstar]

Couple in astronaut assault case plan to marry

updated 31 minutes ago
MELBOURNE, Fla. - A Florida attorney says a couple who were rocketed into the public eye by the antics of a former astronaut are getting married.

Kepler Funk, a Melbourne attorney who represents Colleen Shipman, said Friday that she and former space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein have gotten engaged.

The two, who now live in Alaska, are planning a wedding next summer in Pennsylvania, according to an engagement announcement appearing in the Anchorage Daily News. Shipman's parents live in Pennsylvania.

Authorities say that Lisa Nowak, who worked with Oefelein in NASA's space program, famously drove from Houston to the parking lot of Orlando International Airport in February 2007 to confront Shipman.

Nowak is set to go on trial Dec. 7 on charges of attempted kidnapping, burglary and battery with assault. She was dismissed from the astronaut corps after her arrest and has since been on active duty at a Navy base in Corpus Christi, Texas.

more at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31857088/ns/technology_and_science-space/

[Nut44x4]

Nowak's romantic rival and her ex-love will wed

July 10, 2009, 7:52PM

The couple thrust into the spotlight by former astronaut Lisa Nowak plan to marry next year.

Colleen Shipman and Billy Oefelein announced their engagement this week in their hometown newspapers — the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News and Beaver County (Pa.) Times.

Orlando police say Nowak, a mission specialist on space shuttle Discovery's flight in July 2006, drove from Houston to Orlando International Airport in February 2007. She's accused of trying to attack Shipman, a former U.S. Air Force officer, who was dating Oefelein, also an astronaut at the time and Nowak's former love.

Nowak is charged with attempted kidnapping and burglary with assault, which is punishable of up to life in prison. She also faces a misdemeanor battery charge. A trial is set for Dec. 7.

Nowak is still assigned to the Corpus Christi air station, where she works on special projects in the curriculum department, according to the Navy.

Oefelein and Shipman retired from the military and are living in Alaska, where she works as a freelance writer for a small business and he is a test-pilot instructor.

Oefelein popped the question on June 20 while on a 110-mile canoe trip on Beaver Creek in Alaska. “That night, Billy O. retrieved a ring he had hidden in the fishing box and proposed ... on bended knee,” the announcement said.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6523966.html

[awakening2lite]

Plea deal offered
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/10/florida.astronaut.trial/


Lisa Nowak pleads guilty to burglary and battery.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jjHS8S3jIndU2oI6WHB_KqB-pvwAD9BSR8MO1


EXCERPT

Lisa Nowak, a Navy captain, pleaded guilty to felony burglary and misdemeanor battery. She originally had been charged with two felonies _ attempted kidnapping and burglary _ along with misdemeanor battery.

http://www.ksro.com/news/article.aspx?id=1522541

[Faith]

IMO she got off fairly easy.

[awakening2lite]

She sure did.

Sentence:

Former astronaut Lisa Nowak pled guilty Tuesday, Nov. 10 to lesser charges, including burglary and misdemeanor battery for her February 2007 encounter with a female Air Force Captain.



Nowak will now spend the next year on probation.



The former Space Shuttle astronaut and Navy captain initially faced charges of attempted kidnapping, burglary and battery with assault. Nowak drove more than a thousand miles from the Houston area and attacked her romantic rival Colleen Shipman in an Orlando International Airport parking lot.



Shipman had begun dating Nowak's love interest, Bill Oefelein. At that time Oefelein was a space shuttle pilot.



Shipman told an Orange County, Florida judge that she is still plagued with fear.



Following the attack NASA dismissed Nowak from the astronaut corps. Since then she has been on active duty at a Navy base in Corpus Christi, Texas.


http://www.ktva.com/ci_13754628

[awakening2lite]

EXCERPT

In addition to the probation and two days in jail, time served, Nowak also was ordered to take an 8-hour anger management class and complete 50 hours of community service.

The judge told her to stay "totally" away from both Shipman and Oefelein.


In admitting the charges of felony burglary of a car and misdemeanor battery, Nowak said Tuesday she understood the consequences. She said she was no longer plagued by mental problems.


"The counseling has been completed and I am not suffering from any debilitation at this time," Nowak told Circuit Judge Marc L. Lubet.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,573623,00.html?test=latestnews