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Two-year sentence for Hingis stalker
Thursday, Apr 12 14:40:24 PT

By CATHERINE WILSON - Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) -- A man convicted of stalking Martina Hingis was sentenced Thursday to two years in jail but will be freed in less than one.

Dubravko Rajcevic, a 46-year-old Croatian-born naval architect from Australia, will get credit for 375 days he has already served since his arrest at the 2000 Ericsson Open near Miami.

``I'm one more year in jail?'' Rajcevic asked Circuit Judge Kevin Emas.

``Yes,'' came the reply.

``I'm not happy,'' said Rajcevic, who has less than a year left to serve. He will be on probation for two years after his release, but he will be subject to deportation to Australia at that point, and it is uncertain whether the legal reach of probation will extend there.

Prosecutors had asked for the maximum four-year term but told the judge that Hingis' family would accept two if the sentence included an order that he stay away from her.

It did -- in detail. Emas took pains to explain he was barring both direct and indirect contact with Hingis, her family and her manager in person, or by any other means.

Hingis found out about the sentencing soon after winning her third-round match at the Bausch & Lomb Championships in Amelia Island.

``This is like the final day. I definitely don't have to worry about that anymore and I won't be questioned about it,'' she said. ``I'm definitely very, very happy that I don't have to think about it anymore. I went through it, and now it's over.''

Hingis declined comment when asked what she thought about the sentence.

Rajcevic, 46, beamed when the 20-year-old Swiss player came to court early this month and later rationalized her negative testimony by saying she must have found a new love during his time in jail.

``I am not interested anymore in Martina Hingis because she turned back on me. She lied in courtroom,'' Rajcevic said. He now says he will sign a court order promising to stay away from Hingis for 150 years because he's no longer interested in her.

He spoke at length to the judge before sentencing and said that for him, Hingis ``doesn't exist anymore.'' But he then went on to recount his previous encounters with Hingis.

A psychological evaluation showed that Rajcevic's delusional state was worse than when he was examined last summer, but he rejected the findings sealed by the court.

``I am not delusional,'' Rajcevic said. ``I am not mentally ill.''

Although the sentence requires Rajcevic to submit to psychological evaluations, prosecutor Chris Calkin said he doesn't believe Rajcevic can legally be required to accept treatment unless his condition severely worsens.

Defense attorney Frank Abrams was disappointed with the sentence and said punishing ``someone like Mr. Rajcevic would be a sin.''

Rajcevic said he wants to appeal, but with a different attorney.

Hingis testified she told Rajcevic in person and by phone to leave her alone. He said she communicated to him primarily through TV interviews after tournaments and told others that they planned to marry.

Rajcevic frequently interrupted Hingis and other witnesses and openly countermanded his own attorney in his trial. He claimed to be close to former President Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Attorney General Janet Reno and FBI director Louis Freeh.

The jury agreed with prosecutors that he acted maliciously and caused ``substantial emotional distress'' by showing up at her Zurich home with flowers, calling her during tournaments, sending her love letters and getting the address of her second home in the Tampa Bay area.

Rajcevic refused six plea bargains that would have set him free if he agreed to have no contact with Hingis for two years.

Security for tennis stars has heightened since 1993 when a professed fan of Steffi Graf stabbed Monica Seles during a tournament in Germany.


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