Gwyneth Paltrow stalker cleared of same offence in new case

A man convicted 15 years ago of stalking Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow has been cleared of the same offence in a new case. Dante Soiu, 67, was acquitted of felony stalking and a lesser charge of attempted stalking by a Los Angeles Superior Court. It followed a trial in which the 43-year-old actress read out some of the 48 letters sent to her by the former pizza deliveryman. A tearful Paltrow told the jury Soiu had sent her letters containing religious and pornographic messages and that she feared for her children's safety.

I'm scared because the communications completely defy logic. I've been dealing with this for 17 years with the communications from this man.

Gwyneth Paltrow speaking to the jury

Some of the letters mentioned Soiu's desire to marry Paltrow and cleanse her of her sins. They also referred to a pair of earrings he sent her in 2009 as a Christmas gift. Soiu told the court he meant no harm and that his letters were 'a matter of seeking forgiveness' for the trouble he had caused before. Soiu, from Ohio, was found guilty in December 2000 of stalking Paltrow after sending her sexually explicit letters and packages, and showing up twice outside her parents' home. The judge subsequently declared Soiu to be insane and sent him to a psychiatric facility for treatment. His obsession with Paltrow followed her Academy Award-winning performance in the 1998 film Shakespeare In Love.

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