Jurors have convicted a man of stalking Martina Hingis, rejecting arguments by the defense that he never threatened the tennis star and only was trying to romance her. The jury deliberated for 2 1/2 hours before announcing the verdict yesterday in the stalking and trespassing case against Dubravko Rajcevic, a 46-year-old Croatian-born naval architect.
Rajcevic was found guilty on all of the four misdemeanour charges against him: one count of stalking and three counts of trespassing during the 2000 Ericsson Open near Miami. Rajcevic faces up to four years in state prison.
Rajcevic said he fell in love with Hingis after seeing her on television while at home in Australia about the same time he was getting a divorce in 1999.
Thinking a relationship could develop with Hingis, Rajcevic began sending her faxes and letters expressing his admiration for her and traveled to her Swiss home to deliver flowers. Rajcevic said many people close to Hingis told him she didn't want a relationship with him, but he said he never heard that from her. Hingis testified on Monday that she told him in person and by phone to stay away.
Bureau Report