Denver Post
DA Hurlbert requests date change
Saturday, October 25, 2003 - Kobe Bryant's first appearance in Eagle County District Court may be continued from early November until Thanksgiving week if District Judge Terry Ruckriegle grants a prosecution request.
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert asked Friday that the scheduled Nov. 10 appearance of the basketball superstar be moved to either Nov. 24 or Nov. 26 as a result of scheduling conflicts that he and fellow prosecutor Ingrid Bakke have that day. Hurlbert said he mistakenly agreed to the earlier date because the prior engagements were not written into the Eagle office court calendar. The district attorney said the delay won't adversely affect any of the parties. Hurlbert said it is important he be present at Bryant's first district court appearance because he personally wants to argue a recently filed motion. In it, Hurlbert alleged information about the case, viewed by legal analysts as potentially helpful to the defense, had been leaked to the media by a retired judge. The judge claimed he received the information from Hal Haddon, one of Bryant's lawyers. Haddon has denied the allegation, saying he hasn't seen or spoken to the retired judge, William Jones, since some time in the 1980s, when he last appeared in his court. Haddon denied ever talking to Jones about the Bryant case. On Monday, Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett ordered Bryant to stand trial on a charge that he raped a 19-year-old front desk employee at an Edwards resort on June 30. During the district court appearance, Bryant will be advised of the charge and his rights and could enter a plea. He denies the criminal charge, saying he had consensual sex with the woman. Haddon didn't return a call Friday on whether he'd agree to a continuance or to address the allegation about Jones. Haddon said in a press release Thursday he planned to respond to Hurlbert's allegation in a motion. |