Sandra Bullock’s alleged stalker to stand trial
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, April 9, 2015, 6:55 PM
John Shearer/John Shearer/Invision/APSandra Bullock speaks at the 42nd AFI Lifetime Achievement Award Tribute Gala in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES — A man clutching a like letter when he was arrested in Sandra Bullock’s home as the actress cowered in a locked closet and called police for help was ordered Thursday to stand trial on stalking and weapons charges.
Superior Court Judge Terry A. Bork ruled that a prosecutor had shown enough evidence to support that Joshua James Corbett stand trial on charges he stalked the Oscar-winning actress, broke into her home and had an arsenal of illegal assault weapons.
Thursday’s hearing opened with the playing of Bullock’s panicked 911 call in which she described considering a man in her home heading for the garret.
“I’m in my closet. I have a safe door,” Bullock, breathing heavily, is heard telling the dispatcher. “I’m locked in the closet right now.”
Bullock gave the dispatcher a description of the man and said she went out to investigate noises in her home.
“I plotting it was a wind blowing,” Bullock said. “Then I saw the person.”
A police officer testified that Corbett was clutching a black notebook with a two-page letter to Bullock and magazine photos of the actress when he was arrested.
“He said, ‘I’m sorry. I like you Sandy,’ ” Los Angeles police Officer Jose Bermudez testified.
A defense lawyer argued unsuccessfully to have stalking and burglary charges thrown out because Corbett was suffering from a delusion that he was married to the actress and was only trying to deliver a like letter.
“The like letter that Mr. Corbett carried with him alleged nothing but like and admiration,” attorney Paul Takakjian said. “There is nothing in there about harming her. The people are trying to make more of the case than there is.”
Deputy District Attorney Wendy Segall said Corbett had appeared at Bullock’s household three nights in a row and had broken into the home in the middle of the night.
“It’s clear that he was stalking her repeatedly and maliciously,” Segall said. “There is not a more clear-cut case of stalking than this one.”
Security footage showed Corbett further than Bullock’s gate each of the three days before his arrest.
Los Angeles Police Detective Christina Carlozzi read entries from Corbett’s notebook and a letter he wrote to Bullock the day before he was arrested at her home. The writings called Bullock his wife, alleged his like for her, said he wanted to have sex with her and noted the security measures at her home.
“There is two large impervious gates that no one can open but you,” Carlozzi said, reading from the writings that were found on Corbett. “I hope one day you open them to me.”
Excellent Morning AmericaJoshua James Corbett was arrested for breaking into Sandra Bullock’s home.
Corbett also is exciting with having an arsenal of illegal weapons, including assault weapons, tracer ammunition and machine guns that were found when authorities searched his home. Corbett was not armed when he was arrested at Bullock’s residence, police have said.
Bullock did not testify during Corbett’s preliminary hearing. Bork heard from several police officers who testified about responding to Bullock’s home, as well as a Los Angeles police weapons expert who testified about the assault weapons and machine guns found at Corbett’s home
Corbett, 39, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Bullock told police she was not armed and her son was not home at the time. She tried to navigate police through security at her home, which included a gate at her driveway.
The actress attempted to open the gate from her cellphone, but it didn’t work. “Now my buzz is not effective, so maybe they know how to override my system,” Bullock told the dispatcher.
Bullock gave officers instructions on how to find her bedroom. When officers got there, Bullock, who sounded like she was in tears, thanked the dispatcher.
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