The trauma from witnessing an attack by tennis broadcaster and coach Justin Gimelstob caused a woman to miscarry, a Los Angeles court heard on Monday.

Gimelstob, an Association of Tennis Professionals board member, was found guilty on Monday of a felony assault, reduced to a misdemeanour by the judge after a last-minute deal with the LA District Attorney.

The former tennis doubles champion was sentenced to three years probation and 60 days community service, after being convicted of beating his former friend more than 50 times and threatening to kill him in front of the man’s wife and two-year-old child last Halloween.

During an emotional hearing, the victims, LA investor Randall Kaplan and his wife Madison, read statements to the court, claiming the stress from the attack had led Madison Kaplan to have a miscarriage.

“Thankfully my husband survived, but our unborn child did not,” Madison Kaplan said. “My doctors said everything had looked perfect with the pregnancy before the attack. The only reason they could see causing the miscarriage was the stress from the attack. Justin might not have gotten his wish in killing Randy, but he did kill a tiny innocent little baby girl.”