The Denver Posteditorial
Get Bryant trial moving
Saturday, March 27, 2004 -
A mother's plea that the judge speed up the trial of Kobe Bryant gives an alarming glimpse of the brutal harassment endured by the young woman who has accused the Los Angeles Lakers basketball star of rape.
The mother said in a letter to the court that her daughter has been "followed everywhere by the defense" and stalked and harassed by the public and the media - so much that she can't hold a job or stay in one place for long. Bryant was charged with rape last July, but he hasn't entered a plea, and no trial date has been set. There's no indication of favoritism or foot-dragging by the court, according to former prosecutor Karen Steinhauser. "This whole process is difficult on an alleged victim. ... In this case, it's far worse on her than in any other case because of the intense publicity." Setting a trial date rests with District Judge Terry Ruckriegle, and Bryant's constitutional rights are the governing factor. Ruckriegle hasn't asked Bryant to enter a plea yet, so the six-month speedy-trial rule hasn't kicked in yet. That's unusual but not unheard of, particularly in cases where complicated issues about evidence and other matters must be resolved before trial. On Wednesday, the young woman was questioned for several hours behind closed doors as Bryant's defense sought an exemption to Colorado's rape-shield law, which normally forbids using a woman's sexual history as evidence. There are other matters, such as access to the woman's medical records - results from DNA testing and the admissability of statements Bryant made to deputies after the alleged assault on June 30, 2003 - that need to be resolved. Bryant's rights must be protected, but it's disturbing when a witness is harassed so unmercifully. We hope the court recognizes the special circumstances of this publicity-soaked case and shows some regard for the young woman and the chilling effect this case may have on other women reporting sex crimes. |