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Post Info TOPIC: Ottawa doctor accused of stalking Shania decides to plead guilty


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Ottawa doctor accused of stalking Shania decides to plead guilty


Harassment charges against doctor dropped after Shania Twain refuses to testify


OTTAWA — An Ottawa doctor accused of criminally harassing Shania Twain had the charge withdrawn after the country superstar refused to appear in court Monday.

Dr. Giovanni "John" Palumbo, 50, is alleged to have sent Twain letters and flowers to her home in Switzerland several times between February and October 2009, according to court documents filed by the Crown.

He also allegedly appeared in the vicinity of Twain's summer home in the Muskokas in August 2009.

Acting deputy Crown attorney Mark Moors said prosecutors could not compel Twain, whose legal name is Eilleen Lange, to testify in court because she wasn't in Ontario. As a result, the Crown could not prove that Palumbo's conduct caused her to fear for her safety and the safety of her family.

"For the matter to proceed, we required the evidence of the complainant and we were unable to compel her attendance or participation," said Moors. "Regrettably, as a result of this, there is no reasonable prospect of conviction."

Ontario Court Justice Jack Nadelle chastised the absent Ontario-born singer for wasting "scarce" court time as well as police and prosecution resources used to investigate the case. The matter had been set for a five-day trial.

"I'm sure Ms. Lange had, from her point of view, a sufficient reason or reasons that justified her taking the actions she did so late in the process," said Nadelle, who also acknowledged that trials do fall through occasionally.

Palumbo, who was neatly dressed in a black coat and dress pants with his grey hair swept back, declined to comment outside court.

His lawyer, Gary Barnes, wouldn't say what was in the letters his client allegedly sent or why he was contacting Twain. However, Barnes said there was absolutely no evidence of any threatening conduct by his client.

According to court documents, Twain had no direct contact with Palumbo. The letters and flowers were received by her employees.

Private security guards were to testify about Palumbo's alleged presence near her summer residence, according to the prosecution.

No further details of Palumbo's alleged conduct, or the content of the letters, were filed in court and it was not clear how police became involved in the case.

The Crown had initially brought an application to have Twain testify by video, but withdrew it during a court appearance last week.

Palumbo, who was admitted to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre following his arrest in November 2009, was found fit to stand trial, according to court documents. He was later released on bail.

According to the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, Palumbo graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1987. He was a resident in cardiac surgery and, later, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, at the University of Western Ontario between 1988 and 1991.

Palumbo is also facing charges of threatening his ex-wife. He is scheduled to appear in court on those charges next week.

The Ottawa Citizen


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RE: Harassment charges against Ottawa doctor dropped after Shania refuses to testify


is that the first you've heard of this?

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Dennis


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Yes. I don't remember reading anything about a doctor sending flowers and letters to Shania and stalking her.

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An article with alot more details.

Suspect goes free because Shania a no-show in court
Harassment charges against doctor withdrawn

By Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Citizen
March 8, 2011

An Ottawa doctor accused of criminally harassing Shania Twain had the charge withdrawn after the country superstar refused to appear in court Monday.

Dr. Giovanni "John" Palumbo, 50, is alleged to have sent letters and flowers to Twain's home or cottage in Switzerland several times between February and October 2009, according to court documents filed by the Crown. He also allegedly appeared near Twain's summer home in the Muskokas in August of that year.

Acting deputy Crown attorney Mark Moors said prosecutors could not compel Twain to testify because she wasn't in Ontario.

"For the matter to proceed, we required the evidence of the complainant and we were unable to compel her attendance or participation," said Moors. "Regrettably, as a result of this, there is no reasonable prospect of conviction."

Ontario Court Justice Jack Nadelle chastised Twain -whose real name is Eilleen Lange -for wasting "scarce" court time as well as police and prosecution resources. The matter had been set for a five-day trial.

"I'm sure Ms. Lange had, from her point of view, a sufficient reason or reasons that justified her taking the actions she did so late in the process," said Nadelle, who acknowledged trials do fall through occasionally.

Palumbo, neatly dressed in a black coat and dress pants with his grey hair swept back, declined comment outside court. His lawyer, Gary Barnes, wouldn't say what was in the letters his client allegedly sent, however, Barnes said there was absolutely no evidence of any threatening conduct by his client.

According to court documents, Twain had no direct contact with Palumbo. The letters and flowers were received by her employees. Private security guards were to testify about Palumbo's alleged presence near her summer residence, according to the prosecution.

Palumbo was arrested on Nov. 27, 2009, wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt and carrying a copy of her biography. He also had the business card of a florist in Timmins, Ont., where Twain grew up. Palumbo was arrested as he left court, just after an attempt to get probation conditions changed; he had been convicted in April 2009 of assaulting his ex-wife, for which he received a conditional discharge after spending 43 days in jail.

He spent several months at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre following his arrest for allegedly criminally harassing Twain. He was later released on bail.

According to a psychiatric report filed as part of his divorce case, Palumbo is alleged to have sent eight handwritten letters to Twain. The letters were opened by Twain's assistant and then sent to her business manager. They "declare Palumbo's love for her and ask her to meet him," according to the report.

Palumbo also allegedly went to the business of Twain's brother-inlaw, asking him to deliver flowers to the singer. Palumbo had allegedly sent Twain flowers on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and her birthday.

In August 2009, personal security notified Twain and she became concerned for her safety while in Ontario and hired extra guards. Palumbo's GMC Suburan SUV was seen on the road to Twain's cottage. There were also reports he attended her grandmother's funeral on Aug. 10, according to the psychiatric report.

Palumbo was later seen near Twain's cottage on Aug. 29, but drove away when approached. He was allegedly seen on two other occasions in the same area driving his Lamborghini.

Palumbo reportedly told his probation officer he couldn't understand why no one in Timmins would introduce him to Twain and that it was only appropriate to attend the grandmother's funeral because "he and Lange are going to be family one day."

According to the psychiatric report, Palumbo believed that if he and Twain did meet, "a romantic relationship would be almost certain to develop." Palumbo said the letters were not intended to be threatening or frightening and he was never told by anyone that his attentions were unwelcome.

According to the psychiatric report, Palumbo, who once was a surgical assistant at the Montfort Hospital, felt he had a connection with Twain, whom he called "the perfect woman."

Palumbo, who had been admitted to hospital four times with mentalhealth concerns between 1991 and 2009, was diagnosed as being bipolar, according to the psychiatric report. He also suffers from narcissistic personality traits. The doctor who examined him was of the opinion his "obsession" with Twain is of "delusional intensity."

He was initially found not fit to stand trial, but later was deemed fit by the hospital.

His medical licence was suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons in August 2009 (but reinstated in July 2010) and he owes more than half a million dollars in backtaxes to Revenue Canada. According to the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, Palumbo graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1987. He was a resident in cardiac surgery and, later, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, at the University of Western Ontario between 1988 and 1991. He is currently listed as practising on Twins Falls Place (a residential street in Riverside South) and is not facing any disciplinary proceedings, according to a college spokesperson.

Twain's publicist did not return a call or e-mail seeking a comment.

Palumbo also faces charges of threatening his ex-wife and breaches of probation. He is to appear in court on those charges next week.

The Ottawa Citizen



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Looks like doc is still at it!

Former alleged Shania stalker arrested at ACC

By JANE STEVENSON and JOE WARMINGTON
March 28, 2011


His appearance at the Juno Awards Sunday did not impress Shania Twain much, nor Toronto Police.

In fact a 50-year-old Ottawa doctor, who earlier this month had stalking charges against him withdrawn, was arrested on breaches of court orders and is to appear in court this morning at Old City Hall.

Dr. Giovanni Palumbo was taken into custody on the floor of the Air Canada Centre Sunday, just moments before the Timmins-native was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

“One of her people had spotted him,” Det. Michael Jander said.

Police watched him for a while before approaching him and escorting him out without incident.

“He said he just wanted to meet her,” he said.

The problem is the court has stated he is not to be within 500 metres of the legendary Canadian songstress.

Previously the court has heard allegations that Palumbo had sent letters and floral arrangements to Twain in Switzerland and is alleged to have shown up at her Muskoka cottage. On a previous arrest, media reports indicate, he was wearing a Shania T-shirt and was carrying her autobiography.

Palumbo, who has had his medical licence suspended and re-instated, spent a significant period of time as a mental health patient at the Royal Ottawa Hospital and was in court on criminal harassment charges involving Twain March 7.

The charges were dropped that day because the court was told Twain was out of the province and unable to testify.

It’s unclear whether the singer, known for such hits as That Don’t Impress Me Much, Any Man of Mine and Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? was aware of the incident when she received her lifetime achievement trophy from Bryan Adams.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/03/28/17777811.html



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On Twitter, this photographer Steve told me that a man was IN HER FACE saying 'I love you, I love you' over and over. Shania went into the underground garage to get away from him.

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Doc ordered to stay away from Shania

By JOE WARMINGTON, Toronto Sun

Last Updated: March 28, 2011 8:42PM

“You are to make no contact with Shania Twain.” — a court order issued Monday at Old City Hall.

Dr. John Palumbo laughed out loud when the court ordered him to stay away from one of Canada’s greatest superstars.

“You are all doing a wonderful job, Your Honour,” the 50-year-old cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon from Ottawa said with a chuckle.

He stood in the prisoner’s box with a look of bewilderment and despite being told not to speak in Justice of the Peace John Jackson’s bail court, he continued.

“I am in jail. How can I contact anybody?” he said, shaking his head. “I am in jail.”

And he will be in jail until at least Friday when his bail hearing on “breaches” of previous orders to stay at a reasonable distance from Shania Twain and another complainant is heard.

The court was told Toronto Police is still investigating.

Meanwhile, there is no known evidence of direct contact between the doctor and Twain and none of the previous allegations against him concerning the singer have been proven in court.

This court appearance Monday is, however, yet another chapter in the already bizarre, on-going saga involving this medical doctor with a history of mental health issues and the country music legend.

Arrested wearing a Shania T-shirt and carrying her biography, Palumbo remains a doctor in good standing. When he appeared in court Monday, it was noticeable when he glanced down to look at a copy of a newspaper left on a court bench with a picture of Twain receiving her award.

It was also just three weeks ago that Palumbo’s charges of allegedly stalking Twain were withdrawn from an Ottawa court after the Crown said it could not convince the singer to come to the court to testify.

In fact, the Hall of Fame singer was disgracefully called out for wasting the court’s “scarce” time.

Imagine being publicly criticized for being an alleged victim?

The failed criminal harassment case before the court stemmed from allegations Palumbo, 50, had been spotted near Twain’s Muskoka cottage, had been to her hometown of Timmins to attend her grandmother’s funeral, had approached family members to pass along flowers and had sent letters to her home in Switzerland.

It certainly is understandable why Ms. Twain may not want to be in the same room with someone alleged to have done any of those things. To criticize her was shameful in my view.

Meanwhile, psychiatric records reported in previous media reports indicate Palumbo has talked of wanting to meet Twain to pursue “a romantic relationship.” Palumbo, who stayed in a mental health centre for several months last year, was treated for bipolar disorder, obsession and narcissistic traits.

This latest episode came about at Sunday night’s Juno Awards at the Air Canada Centre where not only was Twain going to bestowed as a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by Bryan Adams but was also scheduled to walk through the crowd and accept congratulations from fans on her way to the stage.

Just before this was to occur, there was a familiar face allegedly in the crowd.

“One of her people had spotted him,” said Det. Michael Jander of the Toronto Police.

Police watched the man for a while before slickly and quietly escorting him out and holding him on a breach of recognizance. Good police and security work thwarted the possibility of any loud or dramatic incident and Twain, who did run through and shake fans hands, was not aware anything had occurred.

“He said he just wanted to meet her,” said Jander.

But once again Palumbo did not meet Twain. And, once again, a court has made it very clear he is not legally permitted to.

joe.warmington@sunmedia.ca

 http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/joe_warmington/2011/03/28/17787421.html



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Shania Twain's Doctor Doom?

If there's a doctor in the house—better warn Shania Twain!

At least that's what security at Sunday's Juno Awards in Toronto was thinking after a 50-year-old physician accused of stalking the music star turned up in the crowd to catch a glimpse of the singer before she was about to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

So what's the prognosis here?

How about a date with a judge.

Per the Toronto Sun, police ended up taking Dr. Giovannie Palumbo into custody after one of Twain's bodyguards spotted him among the throng of fans who had gathered outside the Air Canada Centre to greet the five-time Grammy winner.

That was a major no-no for this Shania devotee, who already had an injunction in place barring him from coming within 500 yards of the 45-year-old entertainer.

Palumbo appeared in court Monday and was ordered for a second time to stay away. When Justice of the Peace John Jackson told him to "make no contact" with Twain, the Sun reported that the doctor, looking bewildered, laughed and said: "You are all doing a wonderful job, your honor. I am in jail. How can I contact anybody? I am in jail."

Palumbo wound up on authorities' radar after bombarding Twain with love letters, sending flowers to her cottage in Switzerland, showing up uninvited at her Canadian home and even attending her grandmother's funeral.

Lucky for Twain, the two have never met. But Palumbo's never been prosecuted under Canada's stalking laws because the Come On Over crooner has been reluctant to testify in open court. Her fears are understandable.

Citing psychiatric records obtained from a divorce case, The Sun noted that Palumbo had been treated for bipolar disorder, obsession and narcissistic traits in the past and stayed in a mental healthy facility for several months last year.

The doc, who's also due to stand trial on charges of threatening his ex-wife, was first arrested for criminally harassing the artist in 2009. He was later released on bail.

A rep for Twain was unavailable for comment. Shania, by the way, tied the knot on Jan. 1 with Swiss business exec Frédéric Thiébaud.

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b233419_shania_twains_doctor_doom.html



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Alleged Twain stalker nabbed at Junos

An Ottawa doctor once accused of stalking Shania Twain remains jailed in Toronto after his arrest at the Juno Awards.

Dr. Giovanni Palumbo, 51, appeared at Old City Hall courts on Monday for allegedly breaching a court order to stay at least 500 yards from the singer.

On Sunday, police escorted the man away from the ceremony at the Air Canada Centre, where it is alleged that he was trying to meet Twain.

A member of Twain’s entourage reportedly spotted the doctor wearing a Shania T-shirt in the crowd and alerted police.

The court heard that Palumbo had sent the singer letters and flowers, and turned up at her Muskoka cottage on previous occasions. He had earlier been charged with criminal harassment.

Those charges were withdrawn three weeks ago because Twain was unavailable to testify in court.

http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/817695--alleged-twain-stalker-nabbed-at-juno-awards



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Doctor obsessed with Shania arrested at Juno Awards
Man had tried to convince reporter to help him meet singer in Toronto
By Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Citizen March 30, 2011
 
Less than a week before an Ottawa doctor was arrested at the Juno Awards for violating conditions that he stay away from Shania Twain, he asked a Citizen reporter to try to broker a meeting with the Canadian country music superstar.

Dr. Giovanni "John" Palumbo had two weeks earlier had charges he criminally harassed Twain by sending her love notes and flowers withdrawn after Twain declined to appear in court to testify against him. Palumbo, 50, said he hoped to sit down with Twain and a reporter because he was skeptical that Twain even knew about the court case. He believed her handlers were the ones who wanted him prosecuted.

Palumbo also felt Twain was being unfairly criticized for failing to show up in court by a judge. Palumbo thought a reporter could expose the "truth." The judge in the case had chided Twain -who lives in Switzerland -for wasting "scarce" court resources by not attending on March 7, the day the case was supposed to head to trial.

Palumbo was arrested Sunday night at the Juno Awards just before 10 p.m. after someone -reportedly one of Twain's entourage -recognized him in the crowd at Toronto's Air Canada Centre.

"It was somebody who was aware he shouldn't be close to someone," Toronto police Const. Isabelle Cotton said, noting a police report on the incident did not specify who saw him or who he was supposed to stay away from.

Court documents indicate Palumbo was under release conditions not to go within 500 yards of Twain, who was being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the awards show. He was also banned from travelling to Toronto unless he was attending the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.

He is facing three charges of breaching bail conditions.

Palumbo also faces charges of threatening his ex-wife and breaches of probation. That trial started on March 15, but isn't set to resume until May. He was still under conditions to stay away from Twain as part of his release on those charges, leading to the alleged breach.

During his meeting with the Citizen, Palumbo remained guarded about his interest in Twain. He insisted that those questions could be answered in the face-to-face meeting with her present.

He also said Twain would be welcome to bring whatever security personnel she felt necessary to the meeting, which had to be organized before the Juno Awards, when she would be back in Canada and possibly available for a meeting. However, Palumbo said he wasn't planning to write her any more love letters.

Palumbo, who appeared in Toronto court Monday, was ordered by a justice of the peace to have no contact with Twain.

He will remain in jail until at least Friday, when a bail hearing is scheduled.

Palumbo was alleged to have sent letters and flowers to Twain's home or cottage in Switzerland several times between February and October 2009, according to court documents. He also allegedly appeared near Twain's summer home in Muskoka in August of that year.

According to court documents, Twain had no direct contact with Palumbo. The letters and flowers were received by her employees. Private security guards were to testify about Palumbo's alleged presence near her summer residence, according to the prosecution.

Palumbo was arrested on Nov. 27, 2009, wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt and carrying a copy of her biography.

He also had the business card of a florist in Timmins, Ont., where Twain grew up. Palumbo was arrested as he left court, just after an attempt to get probation conditions changed; he had been convicted in April 2009 of assaulting his ex-wife, for which he received a conditional discharge after spending 43 days in jail. That probation order doesn't expire until Thursday.

Ottawa Citizen



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The story behind the Ottawa doctor obsessed with Shania Twain

Katie Daubs and Curtis Rush - Staff Reporters
March 30, 2011

John Palumbo listed his Ottawa home as the location of his medical practice.

But a neighbour never saw any patients or signage. All she ever heard was music, blasting through the quiet street. It was sometimes Shania Twain.

Palumbo, 51, is a general practitioner with no particular medical specialty. One thing he excels at, according to court records, is getting a little too close to Canada’s country music sweetheart.

On Sunday, Palumbo allegedly showed up at the Junos wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt, clutching her book. The act of fandom landed him in jail for breaching his bail conditions.

Palumbo is no ordinary fan. Documents filed in Palumbo’s divorce proceedings paint the doctor as the kind of fan who has written the superstar eight love letters, showed up at her grandmother’s funeral since he and Twain “are going to be family one day,” and mapped out the similarities he and Twain share, including the fact that they both went through separations in 2008. He has also mailed flowers and showed up near her cottage.

During a 2010 psychiatric assessment where he was deemed him fit to stand trial on a criminal harassment charges he told doctors that Twain’s reaction to his advances “remains to be seen.” He said the letters were not intended to be frightening, and reasoned Twain’s male staff protected her because they “may have some jealousy issues.”

The charges were withdrawn three weeks ago when Twain failed to appear in an Ottawa court.

In the lead up to the trial that never happened, Palumbo was diagnosed with having either delusional disorder or bipolar disorder, according to court records.

The doctor who assessed him wrote he had “periodic psychotic breaks over the years along with much longer periods of relatively good function” and his obsession with Twain is of “delusional intensity.”

During his periods of “relatively good function” Palumbo has accomplished many things.

He married his wife in 1992 and had three children. He was employed as a surgical assistant at the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa. He made enough money to owe $500,000 in back taxes to Revenue Canada.

But since the early 90s, the court record shows that Palumbo has spent time in hospital with mental illness. After he was terminated from his residency at a London hospital, he battled depression. In 1992, he was restless and withdrawn. In 2006, he couldn’t sleep for seven days and started banging his head on the floor when the Nyquil didn’t help. In 2009, he was charged with assaulting his ex-wife. He pleaded guilty, and The Ottawa Citizen reported that he later received a conditional discharge. He was not allowed to see his children.

The house they had lived in – the same house where his practice was listed, was put on the market in 2010 as a “fabulous” family home with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a home theatre and a 3-car garage.

A neighbour who didn’t want to be named said there did not appear to be a medical practice at the Palumbo house. The doctor occasionally “blasted” loud music, including Shania Twain, and Michael Jackson, the latter on the day that Jackson died.

“I just know that it wasn’t a good situation for his wife and kids,” the neighbour said.

Although his musical preference was well known in the neighbourhood, his most recent medical employment was unclear. The CEO of the Montfort Hospital was unavailable to comment on Tuesday. The Ottawa Hospital could not confirm that he had ever scrubbed in on their three sites.

Palumbo remains a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, although the regulatory body is monitoring the court proceeding and will “take action if warranted,” said spokeswoman Kathryn Clarke.

According to the college, Palumbo had his licence suspended on Aug. 5, 2009. It was reinstated on July 16, 2010.

The college would not reveal the reason for the suspension.

When asked about his reported mental health issues, Clarke said the college has “processes at our disposal” to investigate whether a doctor is “incapacitated” to practice medicine.

Palumbo will remain in jail until at least April 1, when he has a bail hearing on the alleged breaches of a previous court order.

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/963342--the-story-behind-the-ottawa-doctor-obsessed-with-shania-twain



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This is almost too much info to take in about this fellow. But thanks nonetheless mi amigo.

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I dunno this person has got to be insane. Shania Twain already has had enough problems in her life and this makes things worse on her. I really hope she does come out with a New album sometime soon but after this I hope things do not get delayed ?



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This world is full of nut cases, shame that Shania had to be subjected to this kind of behaviour.



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Shania 'Twainiac' charged again
By MICHELE MANDEL, Toronto Sun
April 1, 2011 6:51pm

torontosun-palumbo.JPG
John Palumbo trailered his Lamborghini Countach from Ottawa to attend his first-ever Shania Twain Fan Convention in Timmins in August 2009.

Perhaps if Shania Twain had shown up to testify against her alleged stalker last month, this sad spectacle would not be playing out in a tiny Toronto bail court.

Because it is obvious that Dr. Giovanni “John” Palumbo, 51, is not getting the message.

Instead, the troubled Ottawa physician with a history of mental health issues had a new charge of criminal harassment laid against him Friday to add to his three counts of failing to abide by previous court orders.

Palumbo remains behind bars this weekend after his bail hearing was put over until Monday.

Wearing a fine black wool coat, wire glasses and his grey hair neatly combed back, the distinguished-looking doctor appeared briefly at Old City Hall and nodded when Justice of the Peace John Jackson ordered that he — yet again — not have any direct or indirect contact with the famous singer he has purportedly pursued for years.

It seems to be a tall order.

Just before she was to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Juno Awards Sunday, Palumbo was arrested in the Air Canada Centre audience wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt and clutching her biography — just as he was outfitted the last time he was charged with criminal harassment in November 2009.

That charge was withdrawn March 7 when the newlywed songstress — she remarried New Year’s Day — failed to leave her home in Switzerland to testify at Palumbo’s trial in Ottawa.

A five-day hearing had been scheduled on accusations Palumbo was repeatedly stalking Twain in hopes of meeting her and beginning a romantic relationship.

He allegedly sent letters and flowers to her home in Switzerland between February and October 2009 and was spotted in his black Lamborghini outside her Muskoka cottage several times in August of that year.

He was also suspected of attending her grandmother’s funeral in Timmins on Aug. 10.

The day before the funeral, Palumbo was interviewed by our sister paper, the Timmins Daily Press, at the town’s seventh annual Shania Twain Fan Convention.

At the closing breakfast at the local McIntyre Coffee Shop, the doctor with the “quirky sense of humor” told reporter Brandon Walker that he’d trailered his black 1988 Lamborghini Countach and drove from Ottawa to attend his first-ever fan convention as a “Twainiac” because he’d recently become an “admirer”, not a fan.

“Most fans know everything about her, I don’t know that much,” explained Palumbo, wearing his Twain T-shirt.

“I became more exposed to her in the last year because we have a lot in common.”

He told the paper he split from his ex-wife at about the same time Twain was going through a separation from former husband, Mutt Lange. Plus, he confided, he and the superstar share similar life philosophies.

The next day, Palumbo was reportedly spotted at the funeral for Twain’s paternal grandmother.

He later told a psychiatrist it was only natural that he attend since he and Twain were destined to be family one day.

According to media reports, Palumbo was admitted to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre for several months after his November 2009 arrest where a psychiatrist concluded his “obsession” with Twain is of “delusional intensity”. According to the psychiatric report, Palumbo believed that if he could only meet the famous country singer, “a romantic relationship would be almost certain to develop.”

Initially found to be bipolar and not fit to stand trial, the hospital psychiatrist later had a change of heart and Palumbo was to be tried March 7. But Twain was a no-show.

His court troubles, though, were not over. He went on trial the following week on charges of threatening his ex-wife and breaches of probation.

The proceedings were adjourned until May, but he remained free on bail on conditions that included that he not go within 500 yards of the legendary songstress and not travel to Toronto unless he was attending the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.

But with his “perfect woman” so close, it seems Palumbo could not stay away.

For both their sakes, hopefully this time the object of his misplaced affections will find her way to court and end his delusions once and for all.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/michele_mandel/2011/04/01/17843291.html



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Shania 'Twainiac' appears in court

An Ottawa heart surgeon who has been ordered to stay away from country music legend Shania Twain appeared briefly in court Friday.

Dr. John Palumbo, 50, was remanded in custody until Tuesday, when he will be seeking his freedom.

Palumbo, who had been diagnosed as bipolar and was treated for that condition, obsession and other narcississtic traits for several months last year, has been in custody since he was spotted at the Juno awards in Toronto. Twain was bestowed in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the ceremony.

Palumbo was arrested as he was violating a previous court order prohibiting him from approaching Twain. He has been held in custody since.

Four weeks ago, his charges of allegedly stalking Twain were withdrawn from an Ottawa court after the Crown said it couldn’t convince the singer to come to court to testify.

It was alleged that Palumbo had been spotted near Twain’s Muskoka cottage, had been to her hometown of Timmins to attend her grandmother’s funeral and had approached family members to pass along flowers and had sent some letters to her home in Switzerland.

It was previously reported that Palumbo spoke of wanting to meet Twain to pursue a “romantic relationship.”

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2011/04/08/17921901.html



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'Twainiac' to judge: Release me

Alleged Shania Twain stalker Dr. John Palumbo made a brief appearance in bail court at Old City Hall Wednesday morning and was remanded in custody until Friday.

But he wasn't happy about it.

"If I were you, I'd release me immediately," Palumbo, 51, told Justice of the Peace John Jackson.

When he was warned to speak only to duty counsel, the Ottawa doctor ignored him and repeated again: "If I were you, I'd release me immediately."

The "Twainiac" was arrested at the Juno Awards for allegedly violating court conditions that had ordered him to stay away from the famous singer. He's been in custody ever since.

He is charged with criminal harassment as well as three counts of failing to abide by previous court orders.

Palumbo was arrested in the Air Canada Centre audience wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt and clutching her biography — just as he was outfitted the last time he was charged with criminal harassment in November 2009.

That charge was withdrawn March 7 when the newlywed songstress — she remarried New Year's Day — failed to leave her home in Switzerland to testify at Palumbo's trial in Ottawa.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/michele_mandel/2011/04/13/17977661.html



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Still no bail for Ottawa doctor charged as Shania Twain stalker

Brendan Kennedy
April 15, 2011

An Ottawa doctor accused of stalking Shania Twain will remain in jail through the weekend after his lawyer did not appear in court Friday for a bail hearing.

Dr. Giovanni “John” Palumbo has been in a Toronto jail since his arrest at the Juno Awards almost three weeks ago.

In a brief appearance at Old City Hall bail court – his seventh since his arrest –Palumbo said little as Justice John Jackson reminded him that he is to have no contact with Twain or any members of her family.

“Understood,” said the bespectacled and wiry grey-haired man, who wore a black wool coat.

Palumbo was arrested for breaching a court order after showing up at the Air Canada Centre for the music awards ceremony, which Twain attended. He was wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt and clutching her book at the time of his arrest.

He is charged with criminal harassment.

Palumbo is no ordinary fan. Documents filed in his divorce proceedings state he has written the country-singing superstar eight love letters, showed up at her grandmother's funeral since he and Twain “are going to be family one day,” and mapped out the similarities he and Twain share, including the fact that they both went through separations in 2008. He has also mailed flowers and showed up near her cottage.

During a 2010 psychiatric assessment where he was deemed fit to stand trial on criminal harassment charges, he told doctors Twain's reaction to his advances “remains to be seen.”

He said the letters were not intended to be frightening, and reasoned Twain's male staff protected her because they “may have some jealousy issues.”

The charges were withdrawn this winter when Twain failed to appear in an Ottawa court.

In the lead up to the trial that never happened, Palumbo was diagnosed with having either delusional disorder or bipolar disorder, according to court records.

The doctor who assessed him wrote he had “periodic psychotic breaks over the years along with much longer periods of relatively good function” and his obsession with Twain is of “delusional intensity.”

Palumbo married his wife in 1992 and had three children. He was employed as a surgical assistant at the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa. He made enough money to owe $500,000 in back taxes to Revenue Canada.

But since the early 90s, the court record shows that Palumbo has spent time in hospital with mental illness. After he was terminated from his residency at a London hospital, he battled depression. In 1992, he was restless and withdrawn. In 2006, he couldn't sleep for seven days and started banging his head on the floor when the Nyquil didn't help. In 2009, he was charged with assaulting his ex-wife. He pleaded guilty, and The Ottawa Citizen reported that he later received a conditional discharge. He was not allowed to see his children.

Palumbo remains a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, although the regulatory body is monitoring the court proceeding and will “take action if warranted,” said spokeswoman Kathryn Clarke.

According to the college, Palumbo had his licence suspended on Aug. 5, 2009. It was reinstated on July 16, 2010.

The college would not reveal the reason for the suspension.

When asked about his reported mental health issues, Clarke said the college has “processes at our disposal” to investigate whether a doctor is “incapacitated” to practice medicine.

With files from Katie Daubs and Curtis Rush

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/975369--still-no-bail-for-ottawa-doctor-charged-as-shania-twain-stalker



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Alleged Shania stalker remanded in custody

Last Updated: April 18, 2011 11:57am

Alleged Shania Twain stalker Dr. Giovanni “John” Palumbo was remanded in custody until Wednesday for a possible bail hearing.

Palumbo, who made a brief appearance in an Old City Hall courtroom Monday, identified himself as “Dr. Palumbo, Giovanni” but said nothing else in court.

The heart surgeon, 51, was subdued and attentive, looking straight at Justice of the Peace Trianta Filopoulos.

Palumbo was arrested March 27 at the Juno Awards for allegedly violating court conditions ordering him to stay away from the famous singer. He’s been in custody ever since.

Palumbo is charged with criminal harassment as well as three counts of failing to abide by previous court orders.

Treated in the past for bipolar and other mental health issues, Palumbo was arrested at the Air Canada Centre more than two weeks ago wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt and carrying her biography.

He allegedly sent love letters and flowers to the country music star and was allegedly spotted several times outside her Muskoka cottage.

That charge was withdrawn March 7 when the newlywed singer — she remarried New Year’s Day — failed to leave her home in Switzerland to testify at Palumbo’s Ottawa trial.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2011/04/18/18031421.html



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Accused Twain stalker gets bail hearing

TORONTO — Alleged Shania Twain stalker, Dr. Giovanni "John" Palumbo, finally had his bail hearing Wednesday afternoon at Old City Hall.

His Ottawa lawyer, Gary Barnes, and Crown attorney John Flaherty will deliver their closing statements Thursday morning to Justice Sheila Ray.

Palumbo, 51, an Ottawa surgeon who was still practising until his latest arrest, remains under a court order barring him from communicating with "the immediate family" of Shania Twain.

Palumbo was arrested March 27 at the Juno Awards at the Air Canada Centre for allegedly violating court conditions ordering him to stay away from the famous singer.

A publication ban, which was imposed at an earlier proceeding, is in effect.

-- Sam Pazzano, QMI Agency

http://www.timminspress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3090232



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No bail for doctor charged with harassing Shania

By Peter Edwards

The Ottawa doctor accused of stalking country music superstar Shania Twain was led out of court in handcuffs on Thursday after his request for bail was denied.

Dr. Giovanni (John) Palumbo, 50, has been in custody since his arrest at the Juno Awards on March 27.

There’s a publication ban on arguments and evidence in the two-day Ontario Court of Justice hearing before Justice Sheila Ray.

Palumbo faces trial next month in Ottawa on charges of threatening his ex-wife.

He was charged at the Juno Awards for violating previous bail conditions which prohibit him from watching or besetting Twain; visiting Toronto except for visits to the College of Physicians and Surgeons; coming within 500 metres of Twain and attempting to communicate with Twain.

No one appeared in court to volunteer to act as a surety Palumbo, an assistant surgeon and divorced father of four.

His lawyer, Gary Barnes, declined to comment after the decision.

Palumbo, who wore wire-rimmed glasses and a black fleece jacket, appeared composed in court.

Palumbo allegedly breached his bail conditions by showing up at the Air Canada Centre during the Juno Awards, which Twain attended, wearing a Twain t-shirt and holding a book about her

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/978400--no-bail-for-doctor-charged-with-harassing-shania?bn=1



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'Twainiac' doctor was suicidal, depressed
By SAM PAZZANO and TONY SPEARS, QMI Agency

OTTAWA - A Lamborghini, four kids and a wife mean nothing to one deprived of deep, abiding love.

Dr. John Palumbo, 51, was smitten with country superstar Shania Twain, though an assessing psychiatrist preferred the term "erotomanic ideation."

So, after Palumbo and Twain split up from their significant others at about the same time in May 2008, he began sending her letters and flowers, according to a 2010 mental health assessment.

The mental health assessment was contained in a file for Palumbo's divorce proceedings. It had been prepared for proceedings in a criminal matter.

The letters, eight of them, professed his love. The flowers were timed for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and her birthday.

Twain's reaction "remains to be seen," he told Dr. Helen Ward, according to the report.

Her staff had, in fact, beefed up security, "but they are male and may have some jealousy issues," Palumbo said.

He was cleared of criminally harassing Twain earlier this year when the singer didn't show up to court.

It wasn't the first time Palumbo's mental health had faltered.

The Italian-born doctor got his bachelor's degree in science from the University of Ottawa before attending medical school at the University of Toronto. But after a London, Ont., residency he returned to Ottawa in 1991 and was admitted to hospital as a patient.

Depressed and suicidal, he reacted poorly to anti-depressants but was discharged within three days, improved.

He was back in hospital in the summer of 1992, a few months before he got married, according to the report.

Family were surprised to find him speaking to his father, who had succumbed to lung cancer in 1980. Palumbo refused medication but again improved and was discharged three days later.

Palumbo remains in a Toronto jail, charged with violating court conditions when he allegedly went to the Juno Awards, which Twain was attending.

He is also to appear in Ottawa court on May 17, where he is accused of threatening his ex-wife with death in February 2010 and two breaches of probation.

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/T/Twain_Shania/2011/05/05/18110036.html



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Shania Twain fan believes personal meeting with star is coming

Published On Fri May 6 2011

Curtis Rush
Police Reporter

Dr. Giovanni (John) Palumbo is adamant. “You can’t call her Shania,” he says. “It’s improper to call someone by their first name unless you know them. It’s Ms. Twain.”

Palumbo doesn’t know Shania Twain, but would certainly like to. Professing his undying love for the Canadian music icon, he sits in the Don Jail for breaching a court order to stay away from her.

In an exclusive jailhouse interview Friday, he never once refers to the object of his ardour as “Shania.”

And while Palumbo’s career — and an income of at least $250,000 — hang in the balance, the Ottawa doctor maintains his love for Twain.

Asked why he persists despite the grief and turmoil it has caused him, Palumbo shrugs off the question.

“I haven’t lost anything,” he says. “I have my spirit and that is everything.”

Palumbo, who was divorced from his wife in 2009, has an orange jumpsuit on and looks like he could use a shave. His gray hair dangles in strings at the sides of his head. He wears a blank expression and speaks in a monotone.

The doctor, who still has his licence to practise pending a hearing, grows even more serious when questioned about whether he thinks Twain loves him back.

“I’ve never heard from her directly (that she doesn’t love him). I want to meet with her in person and hear it from her, even if it is a supervised visit,” he says, adding a letter from Twain or her staff with a signature is not proof enough.

Palumbo says she has no reason to fear him.

“People who know me know I wouldn’t even hurt a mosquito. If it landed on my arm, I wouldn’t let it suck blood before I did anything, but I wouldn’t squish it, I would shake it off my arm.”

He waves off the suggestion that his best chance to see Twain is in court if she comes to testify. Palumbo’s not interested in meeting her in court — he wants a personal visit and says he and his lawyer “are working on it.”

Palumbo was arrested March 27 after showing up at the Juno Awards at the Air Canada Centre. He was charged with violating previous bail conditions that prohibit him from coming within 500 metres of Twain.

When arrested, he was wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt and clutching a book written about her. He is charged with criminal harassment and three counts of breaching bail conditions.

During the interview Friday, Palumbo does not appear to realize that Twain has recently remarried and is unaware she has a newly released autobiography.

When quizzed about Twain’s specific appeal when there are other glamorous country music stars who have throngs of idol-worshippers, Palumbo grows stern.

“Now you’re making light of this,” he says brusquely.

He also shrugs off suggestions he might have a mental disorder.

“How would you know? Are you a physician?

“I am not bipolar.”

With that, Palumbo ends the interview to await his next court appearance.

He is to appear May 17 in Ottawa to face charges of threatening his ex-wife with death in February 2010.

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/987484--shania-twain-fan-believes-personal-meeting-with-star-is-coming



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Shania-obsessed Ottawa docor acquitted of threatening wife

By Andrew Seymour, The Ottawa Citizen
May 17, 2011 7:02 PM

OTTAWA — An Ottawa doctor accused of stalking Shania Twain at the Juno Awards was acquitted Tuesday of threatening to kill his ex-wife and two counts of breaching his probation. Dr. Giovanni “John” Palumbo, 51, called his own home and left a threatening voice mail in February 2010 while he was being treated at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.

His wife, who had gained access to the home through a court order, heard the message after she visited the home before it was going to be put up for sale. Palumbo was acquitted after a judge found there was no evidence Palumbo intended her to hear the messages or knew that she had access to the home.

Palumbo is currently facing a charge of criminal harassment and three counts of breaching his recognizance after attending the Junos in March where Twain was receiving a lifetime achievement award. Palumbo had previously been charged with criminally harassing Twain after sending her flowers and letters, but those charges were dropped when Twain failed to show up to testify.

Ottawa Citizen



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Dr. Giovanni Palumbo


I am new here so hello and thanks for this thread. I don't think we have heard the last from Dr. Palumbo. He has been acquitted of crimes agains his wife and Shania. Could he have other victims?

I read that he was released from custody in Toronto in April of is year. Is there a way to find out the exact date he was released? I know he was back and forth in court but his final date of release from incarceration would be April 13th possibly? A link to that info if available would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you and love your message board.

 



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Harassment charges against Ottawa doctor dropped after Shania refuses to testify


Doctor’s obsession with Shania Twain harkens back to farmer who stalked Anne Murray

Curtis Rush | Police Reporter
7/7/11

Dr. John Palumbo is still in jail and still madly in love. Or is he just mad?

The Ottawa physician’s continued obsession with Canadian singing star Shania Twain has eerie similarities to the case of Robert Charles Kieling, the Saskatchewan wheat farmer who stalked another Canadian icon, Anne Murray, in the 1980s.

Even after courts ordered him to stay away from Murray, there was no cooling of Kieling’s ardour. He ended up dying a broken man in 2002, at age 66, and his family is still shamed by his obsession.

Reached at his Saskatchewan farm, Kieling’s identical twin brother, Fred, 75, says he has no words of advice for Palumbo, who still faces charges of criminal harassment and breaching probation for coming to see Twain in Toronto this past March.

Kieling never got over the obsession with Murray, his brother said, and was diagnosed with erotomania, a delusion in which a person believes a stranger or celebrity is in love with them.

As with Palumbo, Kieling rejected medical intervention.

Fred tried without success to reason with him. “You would think you would have influence on your twin brother,” he says. “If you are obsessed, I don’t know if there is a solution.”

As with Palumbo, there were several expressions of love — from love letters to attempted visits. Fred Kieling remembers his brother even sent Murray an engagement ring in the mail.

“You fool,” he told him. “How do you know she even got it?”

Apart from this, Fred says his brother was intelligent with an acumen for repairing engines. After high school, he took correspondence courses from the University of Saskatchewan in psychology, English, French and German.

Before turning to farming, he worked for the province’s hydroelectric utility. One day, he risked his life by climbing a pole to try and rescue an electrocuted worker.

Kieling showed up at the home of Murray’s mother in Springhill, N.S., while Palumbo showed up at the funeral of Twain’s grandmother in Timmins.

Neither Kieling nor Palumbo was found to have meant any harm to his celebrity interest. However, their persistence scared both singers.

All told, Kieling spent about five years in jail and was never the same after that. He developed a series of health problems, his brother says.

He died in ignominy, shunned by his family. He was cremated without a service.

His brother doesn’t even know where the ashes are.

“He might have had private regrets towards the end when he saw that it (the obsession) ultimately all was a loss,” Fred recalls. “He ruined his life and harmed ours.”

As for Palumbo, he sits in a Toronto jail also shunned by his family. When he was first locked up in March, other prisoners quizzed him immediately.

“What are you in for?” they asked. Palumbo turned away. “What are you in for?” they pressed on.

Finally, Palumbo relented and told them. They broke up in laughter.

He doesn’t like jail, the legal system or his predicament, he said in a telephone conversation.

“I’m no ordinary Joe. I’m a physician,” he declared.

Yet, he wants to meet Twain so he can hear for himself that she does not love him. He said he only hears this from her handlers.

Told that she has remarried, Palumbo is undeterred, noting Twain married the ex-husband of a woman who broke up her marriage.

“This doesn’t seem logical,” he said.

“I hope her husband does the right thing and bows out gracefully.”

Toronto Star



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Alleged Twain stalker goes to trial in September

By Sam Pazzano  | Toronto Sun
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 8:08:19 EDT PM

TORONTO - An Ottawa doctor obsessed with country superstar Shania Twain will go on trial this fall for allegedly violating his court conditions by attending the March Juno awards in Toronto where she appeared.

Dr. John Palumbo, 51, will go on trial on Sept. 29 on allegations he breached a court order that prohibited him from visiting Toronto, except for Ontario College of Physicians business.

A judge will decide next month whether Twain will testify in person or via video.

Palumbo, who has been in jail since his March arrest, was smitten with Twain, though an assessing psychiatrist preferred the term “erotomanic ideation.”

So, after Palumbo and Twain split up from their significant others at about the same time in May 2008, he began sending her letters and flowers, according to a 2010 mental health assessment.

Eight letter professed his love and the flowers were timed for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and her birthday.

Twain’s staff beefed up security but Palumbo thought there may have been “some jealousy issues,” with the male bodyguards, the report revealed.

The Italian-born doctor got his bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Ottawa before attending medical school at the University of Toronto.

However, after a London, Ont., residency, he returned to Ottawa in 1991 and was admitted to hospital as a patient.

Depressed and suicidal, he reacted poorly to anti-depressants but was discharged within three days, and then improved.

He was back in hospital in the summer of 1992, a few months before he got married, according to the report.

Toronto Sun



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Shania Twain does not have to appear at doctor’s trial

By Curtis Rush
August 22, 2011

A judge ruled in favour Monday of the crown’s application to have music superstar Shania Twain appear by video link at the upcoming trial of alleged stalker Dr. John Palumbo, denying the defence bid to have her appear in person at a trial set for Sept. 29, 30 and Oct. 18 in Toronto.

Gary Barnes, an Ottawa lawyer representing Palumbo, refused to comment, telling a reporter as he strode off: “I don’t comment on a judge’s decision when I’m going to trial.”

Barnes said it’s not known yet which day Twain will give her video testimony.

Palumbo, 51, a general practitioner, did not react either as he was led out of court in handcuffs.

Justice Richard Schneider said he didn’t find that having the celebrity testify by video would be “contrary to the principle of fundamental justice,” although he allowed that it is “less desirable” than having her appear in person.

Earlier, the lawyer for Palumbo rejected arguments for the application, saying that the singer should not be afforded special status.

“She should be here,” the lawyer told the court.

Palumbo, who once made a six-figure salary and drove a Lamborghini as an Ottawa doctor, has been in jail since March 27 after he was arrested outside the Air Canada Centre, where Twain was appearing at the Juno Awards.

Palumbo was charged with criminal harassment and violating court orders to stay away from the singer. Palumbo has sent the entertainer flowers and love letters and was spotted outside her Muskoka cottage several times in 2009. He was also suspected of attending her grandmother’s funeral last August in Timmins.

Palumbo, who has a history of mental health issues, has said he is in love with Twain and wants to express his love to her in person. He has complained that her handlers are preventing Twain from telling Palumbo how she feels about him.

In court Monday, Palumbo was asked how he pleads: “Not guilty,” said the bespectacled Palumbo, dressed all in black with grey hair falling in strands down his neck.

In this case, Barnes said, he can find no case law suggesting a “superstar” doesn’t have to testify in person.

“What is so special about this individual?” Barnes said, countering the argument that the entertainer doesn’t want to be victimized again. If victimization were the issue, the lawyer asked the judge, why aren’t all other such cases done on video?

“Why is this necessary? It’s not used very often,” Barnes said. “Why don’t we use this (video links) all the time?”

The court heard the entertainer would bear the brunt of significant expenses, including flight and expenses for her security team, if she were compelled to testify in person. She has several residences, but her home base is Switzerland.

Barnes again dismissed that argument, “Why not get on a plane? She travels herself all the time. I’m coming all the way from Ottawa.”

The lawyer for Palumbo wondered aloud if there is a fear of all the publicity outside the courtroom. However, he countered that Twain is a worldwide entertainer and always courts attention and publicity, so why should this be any different?

Barnes suggested to the judge that Twain may know less than she should about this case. He argued she is too “insulated” by her handlers to know all the facts of the case.

Barnes said that a week before the last trial in 2011 involving harassment charges against Palumbo, in Ottawa, Twain told the court she would not attend and received a public scolding from the judge for wasting “scarce” court time as well as police and prosecution time. The charges against Palumbo were withdrawn.

Barnes suggested that Twain didn’t learn about the trial because her handlers didn’t tell her.

Her withdrawal then prompted Barnes to ask the court if this time it will different. “Is she going to show up?”

Taking the stand Monday, the detective in charge of the case against Palumbo, officer Mark Daniels of 52 Division, said he has been in regular telephone contact with Frederic Thiebaud, the husband of Twain, but never had a discussion with Twain herself. He said in his telephone discussions with her husband, it was clear to him that Twain was always present.

Palumbo’s lawyer argued that Twain’s presence is needed in court “to see her demeanour” in cross-examination. With a video link, Barnes argued, “you do not have human interaction.” A trial judge needs to see that, he added.

The crown told the court that while Twain said she is available on all three dates proposed for the trial, she will be out of the country.

John Flaherty, who was making the application for the crown to have Twain appear, said arrangements have been made at an undisclosed location outside the country to have Twain appear on a large 50-inch HD screen from a secure room to protect the integrity of her testimony.

While no technical glitches are expected, the lawyer for Palumbo argued that video links aren’t fullproof.

“In my 35 years of practice, always something ends up going wrong,” he told the judge.

Palumbo, dressed in black overcoat, trousers and blue running shoes, watched the proceedings quietly.

Toronto Star



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This lawyer, Barnes, sounds ridiculous! Every statement he makes is ludicrous. "I'm coming all the way from Ottawa." Last time I checked Switzerland is a lot farther away than Ottawa. Who can blame Shania for not wanting to testify in person and be exposed to this crazy stalker?

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There are some crazy people in this world!

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Shania has other commitments at this time and maybe she wouldn't feel comfortable being in the same room as her stalker. A video link is the most sensible option.



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Ottawa woman says ex-husband's Shania obsession victimized her too

By Tony Lofaro, Postmedia News
September 28, 2011 7:01 PM

OTTAWA — Christel Palumbo never considered herself a perfect woman — just a diligent homemaker, a loving mother and a good wife.

But in the eyes of her husband, Dr. Giovanni "John" Palumbo, that wasn't enough: She should have been more like Shania Twain, the international star that Palumbo adored. He insisted that his wife cut her hair like Twain, be slim like the pop superstar and dress as she did.

Meanwhile, Palumbo, an Ottawa surgeon, pursued the singer.

Over the years, he visited Twain's cottage in Ontario's Muskoka region; he wrote her dozens of love letters and sent her flowers; and even created a Shania "shrine" in his Ottawa home. His pursuit of Twain became so obsessive that he was ordered by the courts to stay at least 500 metres away from the singer.

In March, Palumbo allegedly breached that order when he was spotted at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto during the Juno Awards, where Twain was receiving a special award.

Palumbo was charged with criminal harassment and has remained in custody ever since. His trial — Palumbo has pleaded not guilty — is scheduled to begin Thursday in Toronto. The singer is expected to testify via video link.

But Christel Palumbo said Twain isn't the only victim in this strange story. Her now ex-husband's obsession contributed to their marriage ending and destroyed her well-being.

"He even called me his own personal Shania Twain, which was very hurtful."

"What am I? I felt like I was dirt on the ground," she said in telling her story for the first time. She hopes to inspire other women to leave abusive relationships.

After 16 years of marriage, Christel was granted a divorce in July 2010. She now has custody of their children: Eva, Mario, Amelia and Leonardo who range in age from 12 to 18.

John Palumbo was, she said, a controlling, jealous husband who would fly into a rage if he suspected her of infidelity.

In November 2007, he was charged with assault and uttering death threats against Christel. He was convicted in April 2009 on both charges, receiving a conditional discharge, including two years' probation and a weapons ban for 10 years, according to court records.

Christel said he never acknowledged his mental-health issues and did not take medication for his mood swings. Palumbo, she said, was admitted to hospital four times with mental-health problems and according to records entered in court, was diagnosed as bipolar. The health records show he also suffered from "narcissistic personality" traits and "delusional intensity."

Christel said she repeatedly tried to leave her husband, but was always coaxed back. Finally, in May 2008, she fled to a shelter with her children. She's tried to rebuild her life since. She's currently studying nursing at university while working full-time in an Ottawa Hospital lab.

Christel said her husband's obsession with Twain began in 2003 when the country superstar hosted the Juno Awards at Scotiabank Place.

"He would put her music on when we were together just to make me upset, because I knew he had a crush on her. I tried reasoning with him but he would laugh it off, saying it was nothing."

She realized the full extent of that obsession after obtaining a court order to sell their home in December 2009. She returned to the home for the first time after 18 months and was shocked when she found a shrine to Shania Twain.

"In the living room, there was a piano with a music book on how to play her songs. He didn't play the piano, so that was odd. In the buffet where we had our wedding photo, he had put a picture of Shania. I found about 30 CDs with different photos of her.

"In the kitchen, papers were everywhere with little notes, saying when she was going to be on TV. He videotaped everything that she was appearing on. In our bedroom he had pictures of her, and in the closet were Shania Twain T-shirts. My children's bedrooms had big piles of magazines with Shania pictures, any magazine that had a picture of her he would cut out. There were pictures he had taken of her cottage.

"In his office, I found his briefcase with love letters he had written to her. There were about 100 of them."

All the material was turned over to police, she said. Palumbo was arrested for allegedly stalking Twain on Nov. 27, 2009. He was wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt and carrying her biography.

BEGIN OPTIONAL END

At the March 2011 trial, the charges against Palumbo were dropped because Twain refused to appear in court.

At another trial in May, Palumbo was acquitted of threatening to kill his ex-wife and two counts of breaching probation after a judge found there was no evidence that he intended for his wife to hear some messages left on his home answering machine. The messages, she said, were frightening and warned her to "watch her back" because he was going to come after her and the children.

As for his alleged harassment of Twain, his lawyer Gary Barnes said Palumbo didn't pose a threat at the Junos because she was surrounded by more than 10,000 people at the Air Canada Centre.

"He's never actually done anything that's a threat. Everything he's ever done is an expression of love," said Barnes.

He declined to comment on the assault allegation made by Christel.

Vancouver Sun



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Shania Twain's accused stalker admits guilt in outburst

CBC News

The Ontario man accused of stalking Shania Twain stunned a courtroom on Thursday in Toronto, calling out to the singer while she testified via video link and announcing that he would change his plea to guilty.

John Palumbo, a former Ottawa physician who has been in and out of psychiatric care since the 1990s, is accused of breaching a court order in March to stay 500 metres away from Twain, one of Canada's biggest celebrities.

But as the country-pop superstar began to speak via video link at Palumbo's trial in Old City Hall, she was interrupted by the accused, who rose from the prisoner's box and shouted out her real name.

"Eileen, you can trust me. I'm going to plead guilty," he blurted out.

Then he said in a quieter voice, to the judge: "I've been offended too much, your honour."

Palumbo, 51, was jailed on March 27 after he was arrested at Toronto's Air Canada Centre during an appearance by Twain at the Juno Awards. He was charged with criminal harassment and has been held in custody since.

The courts have noted that Palumbo has demonstrated an obsession with the recording star, sending Twain dozens of love letters and flowers over the years, and even showing up outside her grandmother's funeral and several times outside her cottage in Ontario's Muskoka region.

Twain was granted permission to testify by video rather than appear in person, after the Crown attorney made an application last month.

Palumbo's ex-wife, Christel Palumbo, told Postmedia News her ex-husband had created a "shrine" for Twain in his Ottawa home following their separation, and that she discovered 30 CDs filled with images of Twain, along with videotapes documenting Twain's various televised appearances.

The material was handed over to investigators.

The defence had argued that Palumbo has never exhibited harmful or threatening behaviour, and that his actions have been merely an expression of his adoration for the superstar.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/shania-twain-testify-via-video-stalking-case-150846646.html



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Accused in Shania Twain stalker case tells court he will plead guilty

Shania Twain tells court Ottawa doctor's letters made her uncomfortable

By Nick Patch - The Canadian Press
Published Thursday, Sep. 29, 2011 12:21PM EDT

The trial of a man accused of stalking Canadian country star Shania Twain got off to a dramatic start Thursday when the accused interrupted testimony and declared in an outburst that he would plead guilty.

Appearing via video link in a Toronto courtroom, Twain testified that the former Ottawa doctor's lovelorn letters and unexpected visits at her family cottage made her feel uncomfortable.

“They were uncomfortable letters, they were very personal,” Twain told court.

“They were more like love letters, not so much fan mail.”

After reading from a series of letters allegedly sent by Palumbo — in which he declared his love for the Timmins, Ont., country singer again and again — Twain was asked how a specific passage made her feel.

“It makes me feel uncomfortable and it makes me also feel a little bit sad and just a bit awkward,” she said.

Twain testified that she had to hire 24-hour security for an extended-family gathering at her cottage in Dwight, Ont., in 2009 because Palumbo was seen repeatedly parked in his Lamborghini down the road.

And she also alleged that Palumbo visited her brother-in-law's auto shop with a supposed car issue because he wanted to be closer to her.

“The manipulation scared me a bit,” said Twain.

“I was disturbed by that.”

After roughly 90 minutes of Twain's testimony, Palumbo — clad in a rumpled black suit and wire-frame glasses — abruptly stood and announced that he'd had enough.

“Eilleen, you can trust me, I'm going to plead guilty,” he said, using Twain's real first name.

“I've been offended too much, your honour.”

The trial is scheduled to last three days.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/music/shania-twain-tells-court-ottawa-doctors-letters-made-her-uncomfortable/article2184698/



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Wow. He sounds like some of the "fans" that I have met on various boards over the years. The ones that think that Shania is perfect and does no wrong and they have shrines set up in her "honor" and the ones that say they cannot live without her or the ones that say that their wives do not like her, but they continue to drool over her anyway.

This wack job is not the only one.

Poor wife.



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Twain feared stalker who sent 'disturbing' love letters, singer testifies

By Linda Nguyen, Postmedia News
September 29, 2011 7:25 PM

TORONTO — An Ottawa doctor accused of stalking Shania Twain for the past three years by repeatedly trying to meet her in person and sending her countless love letters, made the country singer fearful to return to Canada, an Ontario Court of Justice was told Thursday.

"I don't consider him a fan," the Timmins, Ont.-born singer told the court via video link from an undisclosed location in Europe. "I consider him a man who is pursuing me inappropriately."

Dr. Giovanni "John" Palumbo, 51, faces charges of criminal harassment, violating court orders and breaching bail conditions following his arrest last March at Toronto's Air Canada Centre where Twain was being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the Juno Awards.

The surgeon had been ordered to not go within 500 metres of Twain and was prohibited from travelling to Toronto, unless he was requested to be there by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.

During the first day of his criminal trial, Twain testified she became "afraid" of Palumbo after she started receiving "disturbing love letters" from him at her Switzerland home in the spring of 2009.

Dressed in a V-neck, white sweater, with her hair in a ponytail, the 46-year-old singer seemed relaxed at the beginning of her testimony but became increasingly concerned as she recalled specific letters Palumbo had written her.

Twain said the letters often were addressed to her by her given name, "Eilleen Regina," and were "different than fan mail" she usually received because Palumbo did not understand "the reality" that the two would never have a romantic relationship.

 "(The letters) make me uncomfortable and a little bit sad, awkward," she told Justice Richard Schneid.

During the testimony, Palumbo's neat printing and handwriting in the letters were displayed on a projector for the court to see. In them, he repeatedly asked Twain, who is married, to go on dates with him.

 "'I was totally amazed by you since I first noticed you 15 years ago,'" read Twain from a letter dated February 2009. "I love you more than anyone in the universe . . . . I love you.'"

Twain said she was particularly concerned when one of the letters talked about them getting together "a.s.a.p. so we can get to know each other."

In another, Palumbo quoted lyrics from one of her songs, said Twain.

"'If you really want to touch her — ask. So I'm asking and I will wait,'" she read from a June 2009 letter.

The letters often talked about the two being "perfect for each other" and teased Twain about "playing hard to get."

She became so alarmed that summer that she hired 24-hour security when she vacationed at her Dwight, Ont., cottage after finding Palumbo parked outside in a Lamborghini and another time boating back and forth on the adjacent lake.

She said Palumbo once went to her brother-in-law's auto shop near the cottage and pretended he needed to get his car fixed to try to find out more information about her whereabouts.

EMD OPTIONAL TRIM 

Twain admitted that she temporarily felt "empathy" toward Palumbo, who also wrote to her about his divorce and suicidal thoughts but then became "disturbed" when she realized he was "speaking to me like a lover . . . someone I didn't even know."

That summer, she also did not attend her grandmother's funeral in Timmins because she was afraid he was going to be there. She later found out he was. Twain also said she would have skipped the Junos, too, if she had known he was going to ignore his restraining order and be in the crowd.

 "I believed at that moment I was vulnerable and there was nothing that could stop him," she said.

Palumbo had been arrested in November 2009 on similar charges related to Twain but those were withdrawn when she declined to appear in court to testify against him.

"I sort of froze when I was told I had to get more involved," she recalled. "I was trying to get away, not more involved . . . He was very much at the forefront of my thinking."

Palumbo, who has a history with mental issues, has maintained that Twain is unaware of his case and that it's her handlers who want him prosecuted.

Thursday was the first time he has ever heard Twain's response to his gestures of love.

At one point during the testimony, Palumbo addressed Twain in an unexpected outburst in the courtroom.

"Eilleen," he shouted from the prisoner box, addressing her by her real first name, "you can trust me. I am going to plead guilty. I've been offended too much, your honour."

Following the outburst, Palumbo's lawyer, Gary Barnes, quickly asked for a recess until after lunch.

Once the trial resumed the Crown was asked whether there were concerns about Palumbo's fitness to stand trial.

The defence said no, leaving the guilty plea to stand.

The trial has been scheduled to continue for two more days.

Ottawa Citizen



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Twain testifies she wants no contact with accused stalker

Curtis Rush- Police Reporter
Published On Thu Sep 29 2011

The trial began with a stunning twist when accused stalker Dr. John Palumbo stood up and addressed the court.

The shaggy-haired 51-year-old doctor said he felt “offended” by the testimony from international music star Shania Twain and said he was changing his plea to guilty in his stalking trial in Toronto.

Click here to read a letter sent to Shania Twain

At the end of day, hours after Palumbo returned and composed himself and the parties agreed he was fit to mentally stand trial, the proceedings went on and Twain was given the last word.

She was asked if she wanted to have any contact with her accused stalker in the future.

After a pause, she answered in an even and measured tone, with no hint of malice.

“No, I’m afraid not,” Twain said, appearing by video link from an undisclosed location in Europe.

With that, the first day of a bizarre day of testimony was over. The 46-year-old star will return Friday to face cross-examination from defence lawyer Gary Barnes.

Palumbo has been in jail since March 27 when he was accused of breaching an order to stay away from the Canadian music legend.

The court heard Thursday that Palumbo sent Twain a series of love letters and flowers in 2009 and excerpts of those letters were read out in court, the tone growing more serious with each letter as he pressed the music star to meet with him.

In one letter, he states: “You like to sing, ‘Let’s go girls,’ well now I’m saying to you, ‘let’s go girl’ and meet …”

Later in the letter, he states: “Again I agree with you completely when you sing, ‘If you really want to touch her, ask.’ So I am asking, and I will wait until and if you consent.”

Letters were followed by attempts to see her in person.

In 2009, he is accused of following her to her summer cottage on Lake of the Bays and he even turned up at her grandmother’s funeral in August of that year, Twain said.

In one letter entered as an exhibit, the doctor seems to be struggling in a miserable place in life.

“I am not interested in my career and spend most of my time distracting myself (while thinking of you!). Unlike you, however, I have no fans, only enemies, it seems.”

At the end of the letter, Palumbo’s tone grows darker.

“Perhaps, because we are so perfectly matched, everyone that knows us is afraid of what would happen if we met. It is possible that there would suddenly be hell on earth, but it’s also possible that there would suddenly be heaven on earth.”

Then he accuses of her “of playing hard to get.”

In February of 2010, Twain filed an affidavit to the Ottawa police in which she stated that she “found the content of the letters to be disturbing.”

She added that his correspondence and attention “toward me is unwanted and has caused me to be concerned for my own safety and the safety of my son and others associated with us.”

The criminal harassment case was brought to trial in Ottawa earlier this year. However, Twain didn’t show up, saying she wanted to be as far away as she could, and the charges were dropped.

This time is different.

Twain, dressed in white V-neck top and her hair in a ponytail, was cordial and showed little angst or emotion as she talked of the love letters she was getting from “this stranger.”

It was much more intimate than anything she had ever seen from a fan and the tone of the letters became stronger as he pressed Twain to meet with him.

She indicated she was becoming “afraid” of him, but at times she seemed to be more sorry for the Ottawa doctor, who had split from his wife.

In 2009, Palumbo was convicted of assault and uttering death threats against his ex-wife.

In court Thursday, Twain said she was worried he was becoming “suicidal” and grew worried when she learned from her security team that Palumbo had been issued a restraining order against his ex-wife.

The drama came just before noon, when Palumbo shocked the courtroom by suddenly standing up and calling out to her and the judge.

“Eilleen, you can trust me, I’m going to plead guilty,” he said.

“I’ve been offended too much, your honour.”

Twain was testifying about him appearing near her summer home and she said “I was embarrassed” that he was there following her movement by car and by boat only metres from the shoreline.

Palumbo was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom as the judge called a 20-minute recess, which ultimately became a lunch break as Palumbo’s lawyer met with his client behind closed doors.

At 2 p.m., the trial resumed, with all parties agreeing that Palumbo was mentally fit to stand trial, and the proceedings carried on.

At the outset of her testimony earlier in the day, Twain’s demeanour was calm and composed.

Several times early on the court had to adjust the volume on the video and even then Twain’s voice came across as tinny.

Early on, she even smiled to the camera. But her tone grew more serious as excerpts from love letters sent by Palumbo were read out in court and displayed on a large projection screen.

Palumbo was dressed in a dark overcoat with a dark sports jacket underneath. With his shaggy grey hair cascading down the back of his neck, the bespectacled doctor watched proceedings quietly after the earlier outburst.

At one point Twain said she was “upset” that the accused had talked to her brother-in-law in Ontario as a means to meet her.

She referred to this as “manipulation.”

Palumbo, who once made a six-figure salary and drove a Lamborghini, was arrested in March of this year at the Air Canada Centre, where Twain was appearing at the Juno Awards.

There was no evidence to show that Palumbo made direct contact with the singer or showed any threatening conduct toward her.

In one handwritten letter, Palumbo started: “Dear Shania, how are you? Have you received any of the letters I’ve been sending you?”

In a May 19 letter, he included a photo of himself and mentioned that he saw her at an award show in Ottawa.

“I was amazed by you since the first time I met you 15 years ago,” Twain read from the letter, adding that the statement made her feel uncomfortable.

“I love you more than anybody else in the world could love you,” the letter went on. “I will do anything and everything for you. I need you.”

In a letter from June 2009, he wrote, “As always I can’t stop thinking about you. Everyone I see reminds me of you.” Twain testified that the letter “made me feel a bit sad.”

“I felt bad that I couldn’t reciprocate. I am a married woman,” she told the court.

Later in the same letter, Palumbo wrote, “I think we should meet soon.”

Twain said she became uncomfortable with Palumbo’s attempts to have a romantic relationship.

“It gave me the impression that I was being asked on a date," she said.

When the crown attorney asked her if she wished to date Palumbo, Twain responded, “No.”

Toronto Star



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Shania Twain's alleged stalker to be cross-examined

Matthew Coutts, ctvtoronto.ca
Date: Friday Sep. 30, 2011 9:06 AM ET

An Ottawa doctor accused of stalking country music singer Shania Twain is expected to be cross-examined in a Toronto court on Friday.

Giovanni (John) Palumbo faces one charge of criminal harassment, as well as three counts of failing to comply with a court order, after allegedly breaking a restraining order earlier this year.

470_shania_twain_stalker_1109292.jpg
The former Ottawa physician accused of stalking Shania Twain shocked a courtroom on Thursday, announcing he would change his plea to guilty.

Palumbo has remained in custody since March, when he was arrested for allegedly attending the Juno Awards at the Air Canada Centre, where Twain was joining the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Palumbo, a former surgeon in Ottawa, has a restraining order against him after sending Twain hundreds of letters and showing up at her Muskoka cottage in 2009.

Twain testified on Thursday via video conference and told the courts telling the court that the man's sudden appearances outside her property, love letters and personal gifts made her feel uncomfortable.

470_shania_twain_sketch_top_image1109292.jpg
This court sketch shows Shania Twain testifying via a video link from a secret location on Thursday Sept. 29, 2011.

Twain was asked to read through a series of letters allegedly sent by Palumbo, which detailed private feelings and declarations of love.

"I love you more than anything in the universe. I need you more than anyone else in the world because I love you more than anyone else in the world could love you," read one letter, dated May 19, 2009.

At one point, Palumbo interrupted the singer's testimony and said he would plead guilty. He later returned to his original plea of not guilty.

"Eileen, you can trust me, I'm going to plead guilty," Palumbo said. "I've been offended too much, your honour."

CLICK LINK BELOW FOR VIDEO NEWS REPORT

CTV Toronto



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“I just wish it to stop,” Twain pleads at stalking trial

Curtis Rush- Police Reporter
September 30, 2011

An emotional Shania Twain begged the court, “I just want it to stop” as she ended her testimony against accused stalker Dr. Giovanni Palumbo on Friday.

In the second day of the trial in Toronto, Twain fended off suggestions that by not responding to Palumbo’s pleas to meet her, she was encouraging him.

Her brother-in-law had told Palumbo personally that she didn’t want to associate with him, she testified via video link from an undisclosed location in Europe. She also said she instructed a flower shop in Switzerland to stop all orders from Palumbo.

“I am torn emotionally because I have compassion for anybody who is reaching out. The fans often do that. I appreciate their trust,” she said of having to testify.

“Yesterday, I felt very sad and awkward. It’s such an invasion of his privacy,” releasing his love letters publicly. I’m so not enjoying this aspect of this. I still have fears and anxiety about being contacted by Mr. Palumbo. I just wish it to stop.”

With that, Justice Richard Schneider and thanked Twain for her testimony and Palumbo bowed his head, was handcuffed and was led out of the court.

Other witnesses are expected to be called later this afternoon.

During morning testimony, Palumbo leapt to his feet as she spoke, the second outburst in two days.

Twain was describing how alarmed she was at the intensity of Dr. Giovanni Palumbo’s letters asking her to meet him when Palumbo leapt to his feet.

“But I didn’t know that you’d received any of them,” he yelled at the video monitor in a courtroom at Toronto’s Old City Hall

Schneider admonished him to stay quiet and only discuss the case with his lawyer.

Palumbo responded, “It’s very emotional. Please understand I have very strong emotions. I apologize for the delay.”

The judge called a 20-minute recess.

During his cross examination, defence lawyer Gary Barnes pressed the point that Palumbo’s letters had been ardent and adoring but never threatening.

“The letters keep coming and get more intense,” Twain responded. “That is out of the zone of fan relationships.

“I love my fans and my fans love me but we don’t invite each other out on dates.”

Referring to Palumbo’s invitation to meet, she said, “He’s gone on to the next stage of our relationship and I haven’t even begun it. It was a one-way communication. It’s strange. That alarms me.”

It was at that point that Palumbo jumped to his feet. The outburst was his second in two days at the trial, which began on Thursday.

In the first incident, the shaggy-haired defendant said he felt “offended” by Twain’s testimony.

“Eilleen, you can trust me, I’m going to plead guilty,” he called to the monitor, addressing the singer by her given name.

“I’ve been offended too much, your honour,” he added to the judge.

Palumbo was removed from the courtroom in handcuffs after Thursday’s outburst. The trial resumed later with Palumbo appearing composed and both sides agreeing he was mentally fit to stand trial.

Twain was asked if she wanted to have any contact with her accused stalker,

After a pause, she answered in an even and measured tone, with no hint of malice.

“No, I’m afraid not.”

Palumbo has been in jail since March 27 when he was accused of breaching an order to stay away from the Canadian music legend.

The court heard Thursday that Palumbo sent Twain a series of love letters and flowers in 2009. Excerpts were read in court, the tone growing more serious as he pressed the music star to meet with him.

In one, he said: “You like to sing, ‘Let’s go girls,’ well now I’m saying to you, ‘let’s go girl’ and meet ... ”

Later in the letter, he said: “Again I agree with you completely when you sing, ‘If you really want to touch her, ask.’ So I am asking, and I will wait until and if you consent.”

He is also accused of following her to her summer cottage in 2009 on Lake of the Bays. He even turned up at her grandmother’s funeral that August, Twain said.

“I was embarrassed” that he was at her summer home following her movement by car and by boat only metres from the shoreline, she testified.

Palumbo, who once made a six-figure salary and drove a Lamborghini, was arrested in March of this year at the Air Canada Centre, where Twain was appearing at the Juno Awards.

There was no evidence that Palumbo ever made direct contact with the singer or threatened harm.

In one letter entered as an exhibit, the doctor sounded miserable.

“I am not interested in my career and spend most of my time distracting myself (while thinking of you!). Unlike you, however, I have no fans, only enemies, it seems.”

At the end, Palumbo’s tone grows darker.

“Perhaps, because we are so perfectly matched, everyone that knows us is afraid of what would happen if we met. It is possible that there would suddenly be hell on earth, but it’s also possible that there would suddenly be heaven on earth.”

Then he accuses of her “of playing hard to get.”

“I was amazed by you since the first time I met you 15 years ago,” Twain read from a letter.

“I love you more than anybody else in the world could love you,” the letter went on. “I will do anything and everything for you. I need you.”

A June 2009 letter said, “As always I can’t stop thinking about you. Everyone I see reminds me of you.” Twain testified that the letter “made me feel a bit sad.”

“I felt bad that I couldn’t reciprocate. I am a married woman,” she told the court.

In court Thursday, Twain said she was worried he was becoming “suicidal” and that her security team had found out Palumbo had been issued a restraining order against his ex-wife.

In 2009, Palumbo was convicted of assault and uttering death threats against his ex-wife.

In February of 2010, Twain filed an affidavit to the Ottawa police that said that she “found the content of the letters to be disturbing.”

His correspondence and attention “toward me is unwanted and has caused me to be concerned for my own safety and the safety of my son and others associated with us,” the affidavit said.

A criminal harassment trial started in Ottawa earlier this year but was charges were dropped when Twain failed to show up. She had said she wanted to stay as far away as possible.

Toronto Star



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Former doctor accused of stalking Shania Twain decides to plead guilty

By Nick Patch - The Canadian Press
Published Friday, Sep. 30, 2011 4:18PM EDT

TORONTO - A man accused of stalking Shania Twain has abruptly pleaded guilty to two charges.

After a morning of testimony from Twain, the lawyer for Giovanni (John) Palumbo told court that his client would be changing his plea.

Palumbo was charged with failure to comply with a court order and criminal harassment by watching and besetting.

Court heard Twain say that while she has compassion for Palumbo she remains concerned for her safety.

"I'm torn emotionally because I have compassion for anybody who's reaching out in need — fans often do that," Twain 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."

During Twain's cross-examination, defence lawyer Gary Barnes argued that Palumbo — who allegedly sent Twain a series of letters, made unwanted visits to her family cottage and even attended her grandmother's funeral before being arrested at the Juno Awards this year — simply didn't realize that Twain wasn't interested.

"A lot of this is a misunderstanding between two people," Barnes said. "They got the wrong impressions of each other."

But Twain didn't see it that way, even if she did try to empathize with Palumbo.

"No, I would not agree with that," replied Twain, appearing via video link from an undisclosed location in Europe. Twain said nothing she heard at the trial made her feel differently about Palumbo.

"I still have the fear and anxiety of being contacted in the future by Mr. Palumbo. And I do want it to stop. And as far as I know, this is the only way to go about that."

For the second day in a row, the process seemed to become too much for Palumbo.

Twain was recounting the contents of numerous letters allegedly sent to her by Palumbo when the former doctor — clad in a rumpled black suit and navy slip-on sneakers — leapt to his feet and addressed the court loudly.

"But I didn't know you received any of them — you understand?" yelled Palumbo, alluding to why he persisted in corresponding with Twain even though she hadn't reciprocated his interest.

"It is very emotional for everybody," Palumbo said, addressing the judge.

"Please understand I have emotions, very strong emotions."

Amid his outburst, he muttered that the letters were intended to be "light-hearted." But Twain had disagreed with that assessment in her testimony.

"It was scary and haunting," she said of one correspondence.

"It's a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster reading these mails," she added later. "It's very exhausting and unusual."

On Thursday, Palumbo had a similar outburst declaring: "Eilleen, you can trust me, I'm going to plead guilty." Twain's real first name is Eilleen.

Earlier Friday, the defence quizzed Twain on why the Timmins, Ont., native didn't get in touch with Palumbo to let him know his advances weren't welcome.

"I choose to respond to very special cases ... otherwise, I'd never write songs or make records or do anything else," Twain said.

"Most of my contact is with charities, sick children, crisis situations ... people coming back from war.... I would not consider Mr. Palumbo a special case where I would address it directly."

Palumbo himself was more animated during the second day of the trial. He shuffled around in his seat, turned to grin at a throng of reporters several times, and jumped up to confer with his lawyer repeatedly.

Twain, too, was feisty during her testimony. She disagreed with many of the statements made by the defence and confidently reasserted her feelings on the intent behind Palumbo's words. As the morning session was winding down, Barnes addressed Palumbo's feelings for the singer.

"He's in love, Ms. Twain. He keeps trying. Would you agree that you're an expert on love?"

"No," Twain responded quickly, with a laugh. "I do not claim to be an expert on love."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/former-doctor-accused-stalking-shania-twain-another-outburst-154737237.html



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Ottawa doctor accused of stalking Shania decides to plead guilty


Shania Twain stalker enters guilty plea

By Linda Nguyen, Postmedia News
September 30, 2011

In a surprising development Friday, an Ottawa doctor in love with country singer Shania Twain entered a guilty plea on two criminal charges.
A courtoom sketch shows John Palumbo of Ottawa watching testimony from country-pop superstar Shania Twain. Photograph by: Illustration by Natalie Berman

TORONTO — In a surprising development Friday, an Ottawa doctor in love with country singer Shania Twain entered a guilty plea on two criminal charges.

Following the end of Twain's testimony, Dr. Giovanni John Palumbo pleaded guilty to criminal harassment and being within 500 yards of the singer and attending the Juno Awards last year at Toronto's Air Canada Centre — both breaches of a restraining order.

"After hearing Twain's evidence, he realizes she did fear . . . in the circumstances (and) her fear was reasonable," his lawyer Gary Barnes told the court.

The Crown has withdrawn two charges that Palumbo breached bail conditions.

Ontario Justice Richard Schneider also ordered that Palumbo be assessed psychologically in Ottawa before his sentencing date.

During testimony via video from an undisclosed location, Twain on Friday called the "one way communication" from Palumbo "scary and haunting."

Palumbo is set to return back to Toronto court on Oct. 18.

Ottawa Citizen



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The accused man's letters to Shania Twain

Published Friday, Sep. 30, 2011 3:53PM EDT

Parts of two letters sent to singer Shania Twain by Giovanni (John) Palumbo.

CLICK LINK BELOW.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/music/letters-to-shania-twain/article2186728/



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Shania Twain's accused stalker changes plea to guilty

CBC News
Posted: Sep. 30, 2011

The man accused of stalking singer Shania Twain changed his plea to guilty on two charges on Friday.

After a morning of testimony from Twain, the lawyer for Giovanni (John) Palumbo told a Toronto court that his client would be changing his plea.

Palumbo pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal harassment and to breaching a court order.

The former Ottawa doctor was ordered to have a psychiatric assessment at the Royal Ottawa Hospital before returning to court for a possible sentencing on October 18.  If he is declared not criminally responsible for the actions he may be sent to a mental health facility.

Palumbo's lawyer, Gary Barnes, said his client got no satisfaction from getting to see and listen to Twain.

"He feels terrible. He upset the lady he loves. Who's not going to be sorry about that?"

The trial has been underway for two days in a Toronto courtroom.

Palumbo had earlier interrupted Twain's testimony for the second straight day while the Canadian superstar was testifying via video link from an undisclosed location in Europe.

Palumbo jumped to his feet to say he didn't know Twain had received his letters.

The outburst came as the country star was telling the court about numerous letters she said Palumbo had written to her, including one she described as "scary."

Palumbo was charged with criminal harassment and not complying with court orders to stay at least 500 metres away from her. The court heard he got too close to the singer during the Juno Awards.

Twain also said that Palumbo arrived outside her Muskoka-area cottage in both a boat and a Lamborghini, showed up at her grandmother's funeral, and sent her flowers in Switzerland.

On the first day of the trial on Thursday, Palumbo interrupted the proceedings to say he was guilty — but the trial continued.

"Eilleen, you can trust me. I'm going to plead guilty," he blurted out, using Twain's former first name.

Despite the admission, the trial continued into its second day.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/09/30/tor-twain-stalking-trial.html



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Shania sure has weird reactions when it comes to men doing her wrong. She feels bad for Mutt and now she feels compassion and sympathy, even going as far as saying that the trial is an invasion of the stalkers privacy.......WTF?

She sure has a victim/abused outlook when it comes to men.



-- Edited by Butters on Saturday 1st of October 2011 02:00:14 AM

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Shania definitely has a problem behavior she never came over the abused issues.., it seems she "prefer" to leave it that way and I can understand her.

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She just sees both sides of things. There's nothing wrong with her. Anyway, she testifies against him which means she gets things right. Anyway, this man is very lonely and morbid.

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i hope put kay in bin

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d c pratt


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She needs to get another trained attack dog.

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linda


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Palumbo's wife was on 'Inside Edition' yesterday talking about how he wanted her to dress like Shania and be thinner like Shania etc... Not an exciting interview. Just used old pics of Shania.

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twainee wrote:

She needs to get another trained attack dog.


 She has Fred. He is much better than a mutt.



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