A former Nasa astronaut accused of attacking and trying to kidnap a romantic rival pleaded guilty to lesser charges yesterday and was sentenced to two days in jail followed by one year of probation.
Lisa Nowak was arrested on February 5th, 2007 after police say she drove more than 1,000 miles (1,600km) from Houston to Orlando International Airport, disguised herself and assaulted Colleen Shipman, who was then an air force captain.
Before the sentencing, Ms Shipman tearfully told the court she believed she had narrowly escaped being killed in what she called the vicious attack in a dark parking lot.
“I believe I escaped a horrible death that night,” she said, adding that Nowak had researched “corpse dismemberment” before the attack.
Ms Shipman was dating Nasa astronaut Bill Oefelein, with whom Nowak also had a relationship. Judge Marc Lubet ordered Nowak to send Ms Shipman a letter of apology and then to have no further contact with her or Mr Oefelein.