Orlando, Fla. – Former astronaut Lisa Nowak can remove an electronic monitor from her ankle while she awaits trial on charges she attacked a romantic rival, a judge ruled Thursday.
Nowak had argued that the bracelet was expensive, bulky and uncomfortable. Judge Marc Lubet said those claims did not matter but that Nowak had behaved well enough the past seven months to remove the device.
The woman Nowak is accused of attacking asked a court to require Nowak to continue wearing the device. The woman, Colleen Shipman, said she feared Nowak, who has filed an intent to plead temporary insanity in the February incident.
Nowak is still prohibited from contacting Shipman or Bill Oefelein, the former shuttle pilot both women dated, Lubet said in the order.
