Man convicted of stalking Martina Hingis
Miami jurors have convicted a man of stalking Martina Hingis.
They rejected arguments by his defence that he never threatened the tennis star and only was trying to romance her.
The jury deliberated for two-and-a-half-hours before announcing the verdict against Dubravko Rajcevic, a 46-year-old Croatian-born naval architect.
Rajcevic was found guilty on all of the four charges against him: one count of stalking and three counts of trespassing during the 2000 Ericsson Open near Miami.
He faces up to four years in state prison.
Rajcevic said he fell in love with Hingis after seeing her on television while at home in Australia about the same time he was getting a divorce in 1999.
Thinking a relationship could develop with Hingis, Rajcevic began sending her faxes and letters expressing his admiration for her and travelled to her Swiss home to deliver flowers.
Rajcevic said many people close to Hingis told him she didn't want a relationship with him, but he said he never heard that from her. Hingis testified that she told him in person and by phone to stay away.
Rajcevic had told jurors he was convinced Hingis once loved him, but had probably found someone else while he was in jail.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Christopher Calkin said Rajcevic followed Hingis around the world even though she and others repeatedly told him to stop. Under the law, he said one warning was enough.
