Ex-astronaut pleads guilty in attack on rival

[DearAbby]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A former astronaut who drove 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando to mount a bizarre attack on a romantic rival pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges and was sentenced to a year on probation.

Lisa Nowak, a Navy captain, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor battery. She originally had been charged with two felonies - attempted kidnapping and burglary - along with misdemeanor battery. She could have faced up to life in prison under the more serious felony charges.

Nowak confronted her romantic rival, Colleen Shipman, in the parking lot of Orlando International Airport in February 2007 after driving from Houston. Shipman had begun dating Nowak's love interest, former space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein.

Wearing a wig and trenchcoat, Nowak followed Shipman to the parking lot and tried to get into her car, then attacked her with pepper spray. Shipman was able to drive away.

Police arrested Nowak a short time later in the parking lot near a trash can where she was seen getting rid of a bag. In Nowak's bag police found a steel mallet, a knife, a BB pistol, rubber tubing and several large garbage bags.

"Almost three years later, I'm still reeling from her vicious attack," Shipman told Circuit Judge Marc L. Lubet after Nowak's plea, holding back tears. "I know in my heart when Lisa Nowak attacked me, she was going to kill me.

More at link http://www.9news.com/news/world/article.aspx?storyid=126729&catid=328

[DearAbby]

1. Another piece of a story that happened eons ago

swift justice?

[DainBramaged]

2. pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges

reduced charges after three years. I want her fucking lawyer.................

[REP]

3. A year on probation - I want her lawyer, too!

[tularetom]

4. She is obviously a taco short of a combination plate and she may have had murderous intentions

but, when you get right down to it, how much harm did she actually do? She attacked her "rival" with pepper spray, after which the rival was able to drive away. I think Ms Shipman is overacting a bit, "holding back tears" three years after this botched, fucked up attack by a loon.

Nowak is obviously nuts, and should be put somewhere under observation and/or treatment for the safety of herself and others, but Shipman needs to toughen up.

[MadMaddie]

5. Not making excuses for her but when she got back from

her Space Shuttle flight she passed out twice...she may have sufferred some brain type injury from the flight. Who knows.....