Accuser's Father Blasts Judge - Aug 12, 2004
The Judge in the Kobe Bryant case is taking heat -- from the prosecutors citing courthouse mistakes as a reason for seeking an indefinite delay in the trail and from the father of the accuser, accusing the judge of bias against the prosecution. Meanwhile, prosecutors have asked the Colorado Supreme Court to overturn Judge Terry Ruckriegle's ruling to allow the accuser's sexual activities into evidence.
After Judge Terry Ruckriegle expanded an existing gag order in the Kobe Bryant case, attorneys for the defense and attorneys for his accuser exchanged accusation about their motivations in court documents. The defense said the woman's attorneys were "making inflammatory remarks to influence jurors" and attorneys for the accuser said she was not "the slut that she's been made out to be about the defense.
Accuser Files Civil Suit Against Kobe - Aug. 10, 2004
Apparently blowing off the criminal case after being treated badly by the court, Kobe Bryant's accuser filed a federal civil lawsuit against the NBA star, asking for a jury trial and damages of at least $75,000.
Some experts say the move could sabotage the criminal case against Bryant, three weeks before the trial is set to begin. Attorneys John Clune and Lin Wood said their client was owed money for pain, "public scorn, hatred and ridicule" she has suffered as a result of the alleged attack last summer.
- See AP story: Accuser Files Civil Suit Against Bryant.
Becoming disgusted with the criminal court process and criticizing the court's pretrial disclosures about her sex life, the attorneys for woman accusing Bryant of rape have suggested that she is pulling out of the criminal case and will seek regress in civil court, where the burden of proof is lower.
Observers believe that the prosecution's case again Bryant was already weak and had become even weaker when the judge in the case decided to allow the accuser's sex life to be used as evidence in the case after a lengthy hearing. Some think some kind of "plea bargain" effort is taking place in the background.
Judge Issues Gag Order - August 6, 2004
The judge in the Kobe Bryant case has expanded a gag order after lawyers his accuser is rethinking her participation in the criminal trial, which is fast approaching.
Transcript Shows Prosecution Fears - August 3, 2004
Closed hearing transcripts released today show that a month before the judge cleared the way for the accuser's sex life to be used as evidence, prosecutors told him such a ruling would force them to re-evaluate their chances of winning a conviction.
