The Denver Post
Bryant lawyers oppose trial delay
Friday, August 13, 2004 -
Kobe Bryant's attorneys oppose a prosecution request to delay the basketball star's sex-assault indefinitely, saying in a filing made public today that rescheduling would be too difficult and too costly.
Prosecutors asked District Judge Terry Ruckriegle for the delay earlier this week, saying the release of transcripts of a closed-door hearing hurt the chances of seating an impartial jury. They also said they were awaiting the judge's ruling on proposed defense testimony on mental health issues so they can decide whether to arrange for expert witnesses. Prosecutors said the defense has not yet provided all the information on DNA test results that it was required to. But the latest defense filing said that information has been turned over. "If an impartial jury cannot be impaneled, solutions to that problem will have to be found," defense attorney Pamela Mackey wrote. "It is premature to assume that the citizens of Eagle County cannot be fair to the prosecution in this matter." Bryant, 25, has pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault. He has said he had consensual sex with the employee of the Vail-area resort where he stayed last summer. The trial begins Aug. 27, with the last pretrial hearing scheduled for Monday. If convicted, the Los Angeles Lakers guard faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation, and a fine up to $750,000.
Click here for the official court website with court orders and other documents in the People v. Bryant case.
Click here for The Denver Post's graphic on the events of June 30.
Click here for the 9NEWS archive on the case.
Click here for the CourtTV archive on the case.
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