Twain stalker pleads guilty

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TORONTO, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- A man accused of stalking Canadian country pop singer Shania Twain has pleaded guilty in mid-trial.

The attorney for Giovanni "John" Palumbo told the court in Toronto Friday his client had decided to change his plea two days into his trial, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. Palumbo pleaded guilty to criminal harassment and breaching a court order.

He is to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and return to court Oct. 18 when he will either be sentenced or be found not criminally responsible, the CBC said.

Defense attorney Gary Barnes said Palumbo "feels terrible" about the way things turned out.

"He upset the lady he loves. Who's not going to be sorry about that?" Barnes said.

Twain testified via video link from an undisclosed location in Europe. She told the court about letters she said Palumbo had written to her, including one she called "scary."

Besides the letters, Palumbo also allegedly violate a court order by getting too close to Twain during the Juno Awards, and she said he showed up at her residence and her grandmother's funeral.