Defense wants to fix ex-astronaut’s image [View All]

Former astronaut Capt. Lisa Nowak arrives in the courtroom for a hearing at the Orange County courthouse in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 19.

Defense wants to fix ex-astronaut’s image
By Travis Reed - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Sep 19, 2007 21:22:08 EDT

ORLANDO, Fla. — Not so long ago, nobody would speak for Navy Capt. Lisa Nowak.

Accusations that the former astronaut had made a diaper-assisted, 1,000-mile drive to confront a woman vying for the affections of the same space shuttle pilot turned into water-cooler and late-night TV punchlines. She had devolved from a decorated Navy officer into a sad, frantic mess at the end of a jailhouse camera lens.

Her defense attorneys, led by Donald Lykkebak, and a New York public relations consultant are pushing hard to change that image — with methodical steps to portray the 44-year-old as a well-meaning mother of three who just had a bad, temporarily insane day.

Lykkebak asked a judge at a pretrial hearing Wednesday to toss much of the evidence against her — a lengthy arrest interview and items seized during a search of Nowak’s BMW, including maps to alleged victim Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman’s home, large garbage bags, latex gloves and some soiled toddler-sized diapers.

Lykkebak also accused the media of spreading misinformation by reporting that Nowak had worn astronaut diapers during her trip from Texas so she wouldn’t have to stop. He says the diapers were her children’s, from a 2005 hurricane evacuation.

Police say that in February, Nowak, a Naval Academy graduate who grew up in Rockville, Md., arrived at Orlando International Airport expecting Shipman, then stalked her to a parking lot before using pepper spray. Shipman was able to drive away, and Nowak was arrested. Police said Nowak had a duffel bag with her that contained a steel mallet, 4-inch knife and a BB gun.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/09/ap_nowak_070919/


uhc comment: Cut her loose, boys. Give it up.