Still camera also OK for arraignment

By Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News
May 8, 2004

Cameras will be allowed in the courtroom when Kobe Bryant is arraigned on sexual-assault charges, an Eagle County judge ruled Friday.

District Judge Terry Ruckriegle made the ruling in requests for expanded media coverage of the arraignment filed by numerous news organizations.

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Bryant is to be arraigned during the next round of hearings set to begin Monday in Eagle.

As is usually done in expanded media requests, Ruckriegle ordered that one video and one still camera will be allowed in the courtroom.

The judge designated Court TV and The Associated Press as pool photographers to share images from the hearing with other media.

In other action in the case, prosecutors filed a motion objecting to defense plans to call an expert on crime-scene investigation.

Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said in his motion that the testimony would be "irrelevant and misleading at best."

The motion also said the defense team has not established how the testimony would assist the jury.

Before a jury would hear from the expert, Hurlbert asked the judge to hold a hearing to determine the witness's qualifications as an expert and how his testimony would assist the jury.

Bryant's arraignment will take place at the conclusion of hearings next week that are expected to last three days.

Closed hearings on motions to suppress evidence and the rape- shield issue are expected to last 1 ½ days.

The closed hearing will also deal with whether evidence of the woman's alleged suicide attempts and use of prescribed medications will be heard by the jury.

Other issues will be handled in open court.

The open hearing will include arguments on the defense motions to declare the rape shield law unconstitutional and to bar referring to the accuser as "the victim."

The court will also consider what questions potential jurors should be asked during jury selection.

Bryant is accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old employee at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in Edwards June 30.

Bryant admits having sex with her, but said their contact was consensual.

lindsays@RockyMountainNews .com or 303-892-5181

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