Yeah right - Insane!!!!
'Nappy-wearing' astronaut to plead insanity
By Richard Holt
A former astronaut accused of driving across the US wearing adult nappies before assaulting and attempting to kidnap a love rival is to enter a plea of temporary insanity.
Lisa Nowak, 44, a navy captain and Nasa robotics specialist who flew on a shuttle mission to the International Space Station last July, was arrested in February. She was held after allegedly using pepper spray against Colleen Shipman, the girlfriend of a former space shuttle pilot Nowak had been seeing. Nowak suffered from major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia and "brief psychotic disorder," according to her defence lawyer Donald Lykkebak. He also noted that Nowak had lost 15 per cent of her body weight and struggled with "marital separation". "Even the most naive observer should recognise that Lisa Nowak's behaviour on February 5 was uncharacteristic and unpredicted for such an accomplished person with no criminal record or history of violence," Mr Lykkebak added in a public statement. The former astronaut allegedly stalked Ms Shipman at Orlando airport, and attacked her as she got to her car. Police say the married mother of three had driven nearly 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando, wearing nappies - as astronauts do during launch and re-entry - to avoid taking toilet breaks. She is then accused of using a pepper spray on Ms Shipman as she tried to get into her car. Ms Shipman was able to drive away, and Nowak was arrested. Police said Nowak had a bag with her that contained a steel mallet, a knife and a ball-bearing gun. Nowak was charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary with assault. She has pleaded not guilty. She told police said she just wanted to talk to Ms Shipman to find out "where she stands" in the bizarre love triangle. Nowak was dismissed from the astronaut corps a month after her arrest. She is due to stand trial in September. |
No comments:
Post a Comment