|
German Woman Held for Allegedly Stalking Gere
2002-05-09
NEW YORK - A 51-year-old German woman, who has allegedly been stalking Richard Gere, is fit to stand trial on charges of harassing the actor, a New York judge ruled on Thursday. At a hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court, Judge Gregory Carro also ordered Ursula Reichert-Habbishaw of Kessel, Germany, to stay away from the actor or face a second arrest. The judge said Reichert-Habbishaw could be released on bail. Reichert-Habbishaw, who will be back in court on May 16, faces one year in jail if convicted of three counts of aggravated harassment, stalking and harassment, Reuters reported. Assistant District Attorney Robert Wallack said Reichert-Habbishaw has been following Gere in this country since February 2001. "She has called him anywhere from 100 to 1000 times, left messages in his voice mail and visited him at his office six times, during which she professed her love for him," Wallack said. The prosecutor also said Reichert-Habbishaw made six trips to the United States and headed "straight to his office" demanding to see the actor. "She has come to New York each time to stalk Richard Gere." Gere said he has never met the woman. "My secretary has spoken to her," said the actor, who starred in "American Gigolo," "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Pretty Woman." Karen Klose, Gere's personal assistant, told prosecutors Reichert-Habbishaw said she loved the actor and promised to follow him in a series of phone calls. In one call cited by Klose, the defendant allegedly said: "Death seems to be the best. I can take a pistol and kill myself. You are the other part of me, I love you." In a message Reichert-Habbishaw faxed to Gere on April 30, she wrote: "If you want to have me there today -- there is only this way. Love, Ursula." Reichert-Habbishaw's lawyer declined comment after the hearing.... ... | Note: this page has been archived under Muzi Premium Version and is only available to premium members. Please use the Premium Personal Password (PPP) to log in.
Premium Member Click Here Login 
|
|
|
|
|
