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Man convicted of stalking tennis star Hingis
Tuesday, Apr 3 23:13:40 PT

By TERRY SPENCER - Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) -- During his trial for stalking tennis star Martina Hingis, Dubravko Rajcevic testified that she communicated with him through his television.

He also claimed he is close friends with Bill Clinton, former Attorney General Janet Reno and FBI Director Louis Freeh.

But after his conviction Tuesday, Rajcevic insisted that his mental health is not an issue and told Circuit Judge Kevin Emas that he will not cooperate with the psychiatrist who was ordered to evaluate him.

``I don't need that type of help. I need legal help, not psychological help,'' Rajcevic said.

Rajcevic, convicted of one count of misdemeanor stalking and three counts of misdemeanor trespassing at the 2000 Ericsson Open near Miami, faces up to four years in jail when he is sentenced April 12.

Prior to the trial, prosecutors offered Rajcevic, 46, several plea bargains that would have allowed him to get out of jail immediately if he promised to stay away from the 20-year-old Hingis, but he refused.

He has been in custody on $2 million bail ever since his second arrest at the Ericsson last year.

``The only thing Martina Hingis wanted was for the defendant to leave her alone,'' prosecutor Christopher Calkin said after the verdict was announced. He declined to discuss what he will recommend at the sentencing.

Rajcevic, a Croatia-born naval architect from Australia, insisted during his testimony earlier Tuesday that Hingis was in love with him. In 1999, he began sending her faxes and letters expressing his admiration and traveled to her home in Zurich, Switzerland, to deliver flowers.

She testified Monday that she told Rajcevic in person and over the phone to leave her alone, but he wouldn't. She said she hired a full-time bodyguard and even stayed at a hotel rather than at her home during a Zurich tournament in part because she was concerned about him.

Hingis, the top-ranked player in the world, was not in the courtroom Tuesday for Rajcevic's testimony or the verdict. Two representatives of her management agency who were present refused comment on the verdict.

The safety of tennis stars has taken on a higher profile since 1993, when a professed fan of Steffi Graf stabbed Monica Seles during a tournament in Germany.

Rajcevic told jurors that Hingis had probably found someone else while he was detained for the trial.

``Yes, I believe she was in love with me, but I've been in jail for one year,'' Rajcevic said. ``She's young, beautiful, famous. In one year, she's probably found someone else.''


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