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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Plea deal for ex-Nasa astronaut | Plea deal for ex-Nasa astronaut |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An ex-US astronaut accused of attacking and trying to kidnap a love rival has been given a year's probation after pleading guilty to lesser charges. | An ex-US astronaut accused of attacking and trying to kidnap a love rival has been given a year's probation after pleading guilty to lesser charges. |
| Lisa Nowak, 46, admitted charges of third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanour battery over the 2007 incident, in a deal with prosecutors. | |
| Police said she drove across the United States to confront her rival for the love of a space shuttle pilot. | |
| The former Nasa mission specialist's trial had been due to start next month. | |
| Ms Nowak, a navy captain, was sacked by Nasa after the incident. She flew on a space shuttle mission in 2006. | Ms Nowak, a navy captain, was sacked by Nasa after the incident. She flew on a space shuttle mission in 2006. |
| 'Sincerely sorry' | 'Sincerely sorry' |
| The former astronaut was arrested on 5 February 2007 after driving more than 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando International Airport. | The former astronaut was arrested on 5 February 2007 after driving more than 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando International Airport. |
| She went to confront Colleen Shipman, then an air force captain, over her relationship with Nasa astronaut Bill Oefelein - with whom Ms Nowak had had a three-year relationship. | She went to confront Colleen Shipman, then an air force captain, over her relationship with Nasa astronaut Bill Oefelein - with whom Ms Nowak had had a three-year relationship. |
| Ms Nowak served as a mission specialist on a space shuttle flight | Ms Nowak served as a mission specialist on a space shuttle flight |
| Police said she used pepper spray on Ms Shipman and tried to get into her car, but Ms Shipman drove away. | Police said she used pepper spray on Ms Shipman and tried to get into her car, but Ms Shipman drove away. |
| Ms Nowak pleaded guilty in Orlando to charges of third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanour battery. She was also given 50 hours community service and told to send a letter of apology to Ms Shipman. | Ms Nowak pleaded guilty in Orlando to charges of third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanour battery. She was also given 50 hours community service and told to send a letter of apology to Ms Shipman. |
| Under previous charges which included attempted kidnapping she could have faced a long prison term. | Under previous charges which included attempted kidnapping she could have faced a long prison term. |
| Ms Shipman told the court she was still reeling from the "vicious attack", saying she suffered from nightmares and other medical problems that had ended her military career. | Ms Shipman told the court she was still reeling from the "vicious attack", saying she suffered from nightmares and other medical problems that had ended her military career. |
| Ms Nowak apologised to her, saying:"I am sincerely sorry to cause fear and misunderstanding and all of the intense public exposure." | Ms Nowak apologised to her, saying:"I am sincerely sorry to cause fear and misunderstanding and all of the intense public exposure." |
| Ms Shipman and Mr Oefelein - who was also dismissed by Nasa - live together in Alaska. Ms Nowak remains a member of the US Navy. | Ms Shipman and Mr Oefelein - who was also dismissed by Nasa - live together in Alaska. Ms Nowak remains a member of the US Navy. |