Gere 'stalker' to face trial

Richard Gere's new movie opens in the US on Friday

A German woman who has allegedly called Richard Gere as many as 1,000 times during the past year will stand trial for stalking the actor.

After undergoing a psychiatric examination, Ursula Reichert-Habbishaw, from Kassell, was declared mentally fit to face charges of harassment, aggravated harassment and stalking.

Ms Reichert-Habbishaw, who will be back in a New York court on 16 May, faces one year in jail if convicted.

At a hearing in Manhattan criminal court, Judge Gregory Carro ordered her to stay away from the actor or face a second arrest.

Messages

Prosecutor Robert Wallack said she had been following Gere in the US since February 2001.

"She has called him anywhere from 100 to 1,000 times, left messages in his voice mail and visited him at his office six times, during which she professed her love for him," Mr Wallack said.

He also said Ms Reichert-Habbishaw made six trips to the US and headed "straight to his office" demanding to see the actor.

Karen Klose, Gere's personal assistant, told prosecutors that Ms Reichert-Habbishaw said she loved the actor and promised to follow him in a series of phone calls.

Adrian Lyne directs Gere in Unfaithful

In one call Ms Klose claimed the defendant allegedly said: "Death seems to be the best. I can take a pistol and kill myself. You are the other part of me, I love you."

Ms Reichert-Habbishaw's lawyer, Jennifer Blasser, said her client was in New York because she was trying to find a job there.

She was arrested when she showed up at Gere's office on 30 April.

Ms Reichert-Habbishaw is divorced and has four children aged 16 to 22.

Gere's new movie Unfaithful opens in the US on Friday.