LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow has testified in the trial of a central Ohio man accused of stalking her, saying he sent her upsetting letters that contained threats and pornography.
Dante Soiu is accused of stalking the Oscar-winning actress for 17 years, sending her 66 letters between 2009 and 2015.
Speaking at times through tears, Paltrow said the messages from Soiu “completely defy logic.” The Oscar-winning actress says she feared for her life.
Paltrow’s head of security says details he gave the actress about a letter from a man charged with stalking her clearly distressed her.
Terry Abbott says after revealing the contents of the letter, he stopped giving Paltrow many details about the writings of Dante Soiu, of suburban Columbus, who has pleaded not guilty to felony stalking.
Abbott says he believes the letter was one that arrived in 2009 or 2010 but he doesn’t remember the precise date. He says after the incident, he told Paltrow when Soiu sent her a letter or package, but didn’t give her many details.
He says news of Soiu’s writings always concerned the actress.
Soiu’s attorney contends her client’s 66 messages sent between 2009 and 2015 were non-threatening and focused primarily on religious scripture and his desire to minister to the Oscar winner.
Abbott was the second witness in the trial, which resumes Tuesday at 11:00 a.m.