Sandra Bullock's alleged stalker heading to trial
A man accused of stalking Sandra Bullock and breaking into her Los Angeles home last summer (14) has been ordered to stand trial.
Joshua Corbett was arrested in June (14) and charged with felony counts of residential burglary, stalking and possession of a machine gun after he was found trespassing on the Oscar winner's property.
The Blind Side star, who was home alone, called police in a panic
after spotting the stranger in her house and her chilling emergency
call was played in court on Thursday, when the actress was heard
telling the dispatcher, "I'm in my closet. I have a safe door. I'm
locked in the closet right now."
Bullock did not testify during the hearing, but Los Angeles
Superior Court Judge Terry A. Bork did hear from arresting
officers, who revealed Corbett was found clutching a notebook
filled with magazine clippings of the beauty and a lengthy letter
to his idol.
His lawyer, Paul Takakjian, tried unsuccessfully to have the
stalking and burglary counts dismissed, claiming Corbett believed
he was married to Bullock and was only trying to deliver a love
letter to her.
He told the court, "The love letter that Mr. Corbett carried with
him professed nothing but love and admiration. There is nothing in
there about harming her. The people are trying to make more of the
case than there is."
However, Deputy District Attorney Wendy Segall claimed the suspect
had been spotted outside the star's home three nights in a row
before he entered the property, stating, "It's clear that he was
stalking her repeatedly and maliciously. There is not a more
clear-cut case of stalking than this one."
The judge agreed and allowed the case to move forward to trial.
Corbett, 39, was not armed when he was arrested, but a subsequent
search of his home uncovered an arsenal of unregistered
weapons.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.