Less than a week before an Ottawa doctor was arrested for violating conditions that he stay away from Shania Twain, he asked a reporter to try to set up a meeting with the Canadian country music singer.
Dr. Giovanni “John” Palumbo had just had charges he criminally harassed Twain by sending her love notes and flowers withdrawn two weeks earlier after Twain didn't show up in court to testify against him.
Palumbo, 50, said he hoped to sit down with Twain and a reporter because he was skeptical that Twain even knew about the court case. He believed her handlers were the ones who wanted him prosecuted.
Palumbo also felt Twain was being unfairly criticized for failing to show up in court by a judge.
The judge in the case had blasted Twain — who lives in Switzerland — for wasting “scarce” court resources by not attending on 7 March 2011, the day the case was supposed to head to trial.
Palumbo was arrested at the Juno Awards just before 10 p.m. after someone — reportedly one of her entourage — recognized him in the crowd at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.
“It was somebody who was aware he shouldn’t be close to someone,” said Toronto police Const. Isabelle Cotton, noting a police report on the incident did not specify who saw him or who he was supposed to stay away from.
Court documents indicate Palumbo was not to go within 500 yards of Twain, who was being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the awards show. He was also banned from travelling to Toronto unless he was attending the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He is facing three charges of breaching his bail conditions.
Palumbo also faces charges of threatening his ex-wife and breaches of probation.
According to court documents, Twain had no direct contact with Palumbo. The letters and flowers were received by her employees. Private security guards were to testify about Palumbo’s alleged presence near her summer residence, according to the prosecution.
Dr. Giovanni “John” Palumbo had just had charges he criminally harassed Twain by sending her love notes and flowers withdrawn two weeks earlier after Twain didn't show up in court to testify against him.
Palumbo, 50, said he hoped to sit down with Twain and a reporter because he was skeptical that Twain even knew about the court case. He believed her handlers were the ones who wanted him prosecuted.
Palumbo also felt Twain was being unfairly criticized for failing to show up in court by a judge.
The judge in the case had blasted Twain — who lives in Switzerland — for wasting “scarce” court resources by not attending on 7 March 2011, the day the case was supposed to head to trial.
Palumbo was arrested at the Juno Awards just before 10 p.m. after someone — reportedly one of her entourage — recognized him in the crowd at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.
“It was somebody who was aware he shouldn’t be close to someone,” said Toronto police Const. Isabelle Cotton, noting a police report on the incident did not specify who saw him or who he was supposed to stay away from.
Court documents indicate Palumbo was not to go within 500 yards of Twain, who was being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the awards show. He was also banned from travelling to Toronto unless he was attending the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He is facing three charges of breaching his bail conditions.
Palumbo also faces charges of threatening his ex-wife and breaches of probation.
According to court documents, Twain had no direct contact with Palumbo. The letters and flowers were received by her employees. Private security guards were to testify about Palumbo’s alleged presence near her summer residence, according to the prosecution.
Palumbo was arrested on Nov. 27, 2009, wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt and carrying a copy of her biography. Palumbo was arrested as he left court, just after an attempt to get probation conditions changed; he had been convicted in April 2009 of assaulting his ex-wife, for which he received a conditional discharge after spending 43 days in jail.
He spent several months at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre following his arrest for allegedly criminally harassing Twain. He was later released on bail.
According to a psychiatric report filed as part of his divorce case, Palumbo is alleged to have sent eight handwritten letters to Twain. The letters were opened by Twain’s assistant and then sent to her business manager. They “declare Palumbo’s love for her and ask her to meet him,” according to the report.
Palumbo also allegedly went to the business of Twain’s brother-in-law, asking him to deliver flowers to the singer. Palumbo had allegedly sent Twain flowers on Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and her birthday.
In August 2009, personal security notified Twain and she allegedly became concerned for her safety while in Ontario and hired extra guards. There were also reports he attended her grandmother’s funeral on Aug. 10, according to the psychiatric report.
Palumbo was later seen near Twain’s cottage on Aug. 29, but drove away when approached. He was allegedly seen on two other occasions in the same area driving his Lamborghini.
Palumbo reportedly told his probation officer he couldn’t understand why no one in Timmins would introduce him to Twain, whose real name is Eilleen Lange. He added that it was only appropriate to attend the grandmother’s funeral because “he and Lange are going to be family one day.”
According to the psychiatric report, Palumbo believed that if he and Twain did meet, “a romantic relationship would be almost certain to develop.” Palumbo said the letters were not intended to be threatening or frightening and he was never told by anyone that his attentions were unwelcome.
He spent several months at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre following his arrest for allegedly criminally harassing Twain. He was later released on bail.
According to a psychiatric report filed as part of his divorce case, Palumbo is alleged to have sent eight handwritten letters to Twain. The letters were opened by Twain’s assistant and then sent to her business manager. They “declare Palumbo’s love for her and ask her to meet him,” according to the report.
Palumbo also allegedly went to the business of Twain’s brother-in-law, asking him to deliver flowers to the singer. Palumbo had allegedly sent Twain flowers on Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and her birthday.
In August 2009, personal security notified Twain and she allegedly became concerned for her safety while in Ontario and hired extra guards. There were also reports he attended her grandmother’s funeral on Aug. 10, according to the psychiatric report.
Palumbo was later seen near Twain’s cottage on Aug. 29, but drove away when approached. He was allegedly seen on two other occasions in the same area driving his Lamborghini.
Palumbo reportedly told his probation officer he couldn’t understand why no one in Timmins would introduce him to Twain, whose real name is Eilleen Lange. He added that it was only appropriate to attend the grandmother’s funeral because “he and Lange are going to be family one day.”
According to the psychiatric report, Palumbo believed that if he and Twain did meet, “a romantic relationship would be almost certain to develop.” Palumbo said the letters were not intended to be threatening or frightening and he was never told by anyone that his attentions were unwelcome.
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