波多野结衣办公室双飞_制服 丝袜 综合 日韩 欧美_网站永久看片免费_欧美一级片在线免费观看_免费视频91蜜桃_精产国品一区二区三区_97超碰免费在线观看_欧美做受喷浆在线观看_国产熟妇搡bbbb搡bbbb_麻豆精品国产传媒

Prosecutor to drop rape charge against Kobe Bryant
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-02 08:45

Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant rape case will ask a judge on Wednesday to drop the rape charge against the basketball player, a source close to the case said.

The dismissal would be "with prejudice," meaning prosecutors could not resurrect the case in the future, legal observers said.

Los Angeles Lakers NBA star Kobe Bryant walks out of the Eagle County Justice Center in Eagle, Colorado September 1, 2004 after finishing the day's jury selection for Bryant's trial. The judge in the Kobe Bryant rape case on Wednesday dismissed the criminal case against the basketball star. "This motion is to dismiss based on the sole fact that the victim is unable to continue," District Attorney Mark Hurlbert told the judge at the onset of a hearing. Neither the 20-year-old accuser nor Bryant was in the courtroom. [Reuters]

The case was based on a claim by a then 19-year-old woman that the Los Angeles Lakers star raped her last year in his hotel room in a Vail-area resort. He maintained the two had consensual sex and that his only wrongdoing was adultery.

The 26-year-old's defense team was seen rushing into the courthouse on Wednesday afternoon, followed a few minutes later by the young woman's attorneys, John Clune and Lin Wood.

All the attorneys were behind closed doors and it was not known if they were all meeting together.

Prosecutors were also seen entering the courthouse in Eagle, Colorado, where opening statements had been slated to begin next Tuesday.

This week, lawyers for both sides have been trying to select a jury.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bryant's lawyers asked the judge to dismiss the rape charge, arguing prosecutors did not disclose that one of their expert witnesses had information that could help Bryant.

The defense filing did not identify the expert witness, but it is believed to be Dr. Michael Baden, a well-known medical examiner. The prosecution has dropped Baden from its list of expert witnesses.

Bryant's attorneys said the expert's statements to prosecutors could have "undermined the accuser's allegations" and the cause and significance of injuries the then 19-year-old accuser said she sustained when Bryant allegedly raped her.

While the defense routinely asks for a dismissal at the last minute the defense's claims about the expert witness could have had an influence on the decision.

Close

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
Hu, Arroyo agree to deepen ties         Shadow falls on celebs in dubious ads         Environmental damage to be counted in GDP         Nuclear power to push national growth         Arsonist kills himself after setting bus on fire         China to deepen financial reform: vice premier	Prosecutor to drop rape charge against Kobe Bryant       China's Olympic stars won't fade away       Korzhanenko still refuses to return gold       Hewitt, Serena advance to 3rd round in US Open       South Korean Olympic medalists exempted from military service       Safin makes early exit at U.S. Open