The former wife of the late ukelele-playing novelty act singer Tiny Tim is Rabbi Fred Neulander's close friend and girlfriend, according to published reports.

"He is mine and I am his," said Victoria Lombardi of Haddonfield - formerly known as Miss Vicki and Victoria Budinger.

Lombardi married Tiny Tim on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show in front of nearly 45 million viewers in 1969. They were married for eight years before divorcing.

On Wednesday night, Lombardi told WCAU-TV in Philadelphia she is "close friends" with Neulander.

Lombardi's telephone number is unlisted, and she could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Neulander, 61, was convicted Wednesday of hiring hit men to kill his wife Carol, who was murdered in the couple's Cherry Hill home in 1994.

Lombardi, 50, said she believes Neulander is innocent.

"I support him and I am there for him," she said.

About the rabbi's calm courtroom demeanor, Lombardi said: " That's Fred. He's very controlled. He doesn't show his emotions to others unless it's someone he's very close to, and sometimes not even then."

The former Admiral Wilson Boulevard go-go dancer, model and New Age shop owner said Neulander's mail is delivered to her Haddonfield apartment and that she is driving a green Toyota Camry that belonged to Carol Neulander.

Lombardi said she sees no problem with that.

"It's a car. It's not like I'm wearing her nightgown. It's a car. It was his car. He had been driving it. It was the only car he had," she said.

Lombardi has not attended the trial and said she would not attend the penalty phase of the rabbi's trial, which began Thursday.

"I don't know which would be worse to tell you the truth - a life in a place like that, or death. If it were I, I would probably want the latter," she said.

Whatever happens, Lombardi said, she is devastated.

"Not for me, so much, but that an innocent man has to suffer. That just really makes my heart hurt," Lombardi said.