Canadian country star Shania Twain testified Friday that she has compassion for a man accused of stalking her but remains concerned that he will continue to pursue her.
Giovanni Palumbo has been charged with three counts of failure to comply with a court order and criminal harassment. He had pleaded not guilty earlier this week but after listening to testimony Friday from Twain, Palumbo's lawyer told court that his client would plead guilty to both charges.
Lawyer Gary Barnes said that hearing Twain's heartfelt testimony stirred a revelation in Palumbo.
The former Ottawa doctor allegedly sent Twain a series of letters, made unwanted visits to her family cottage in Ontario and even attended her grandmother's funeral before being arrested at a Canadian awards ceremony this year.
Before he pleaded guilty Friday, Barnes said during Twain's cross-examination that Palumbo simply didn't realize that Twain wasn't interested. But Twain, appearing via video link from an undisclosed location in Europe, didn't see it that way.
I'm torn emotionally because I have compassion for anybody who's reaching out in need -- fans often do that," she said. "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."
