Kobe Bryant Prosecutors to Show Pictures of Accuser

Kobe Bryant Prosecutors to Show Pictures of Accuser
Wed September 10, 2003 04:34 PM ET
DENVER - Prosecutors plan to show a videotape of the woman who has accused Kobe Bryant of rape as well as photographs of her injuries at a hearing next month, so requiring her to appear in person would amount to intimidation, according to a filing made public on Wednesday.

Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert is seeking to quash a defense subpoena that calls for the woman to appear in person at an Oct. 9 hearing in Eagle, Colorado that would determine if Bryant must stand trial on the rape charge.

Prosecutors argue it is not necessary to make a victim appear at a preliminary hearing and calling her "will result in causing anxiety and intimidation to the victim." One of the investigating police officers who interviewed the woman, Det. Doug Winters, is also expected to testify, the filing said.

Attorneys for Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Bryant, 25, have subpoenaed the 19-year-old woman to appear at the preliminary hearing and also want to see her medical records about an incident when she was hospitalized in February after police determined she was "a danger to herself."

The district attorney is also trying to have four subpoenas for records on the woman quashed.

Prosecutors maintain that enough information will be available at the Oct. 9 hearing to make a determination of probable cause.

"In this case the People intend ... to play the videotaped interview of the victim, play an electronically enhanced version of the defendant's interview, provide photos of the victim's injuries from the medical examination," Hurlbert said in his filing.

The defense has not said why it wants to see the medical records, but the aim would clearly be to call into question the woman's credibility or emotional state, legal experts have said.

Seeing her on the witness stand would also show defense attorneys Hal Haddon and Pamela Mackey how well the woman can put up with the pressure of testifying, lawyers have said.

Bryant has denied he raped the woman and said the June 30 encounter at a posh Colorado resort where the woman worked as a concierge was consensual sex.

Bryant is accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, Colo., on June 30, 2003

Bryant appears in court on assault charge. Preliminary hearing set for October 9

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