Seles still `traumatised'

Tuesday 28 March 1995 17:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

TENNIS

Monica Seles, the former world No 1, suffers nightmares about being attacked again and feels like a bird trapped in a cage, her psychologist told a German court in Hamburg yesterday.

At the retrial of Gunter Parche, who stabbed Seles on court two years ago, the American psychologist, Jerry May, said his patient was terrified that he would attack her again.

Seles, who has not played in a tournament since being stabbed the at Hamburg Open in April 1993, was still suffering from post-traumatic stress. "This is usual for people who have experienced a traumatic situation like a woman who has been raped, or a person who has been in a war," May said.

The retrial of the 40-year-old lathe operator from eastern Germany started last week.

Parche received a two-year suspended sentence in October 1993 after a judge ruled that he was emotionally retarded and might not have been completely responsible for his actions.

Seles and the prosecutor appealed, asking for the sentence to be increased to five years in jail. Seles also wants Parche to be sentenced for attempted manslaughter instead of grievous bodily harm.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in