Star's accuser a 'real person'
2003-11-14 08:35
Colorado - NBA superstar Kobe Bryant faced the family of his alleged rape victim for the first time on Thursday at a court hearing in which he put off entering a plea to the charge.
The Los Angeles Lakers star made his maiden appearance before the judge who will preside over his celebrity rape trial which could result in him being jailed for between four years and life if convicted.
But the 25-year-old National Basketball Association player chose not to take advantage of his first opportunity to enter a plea.
"I have fully advised my client of the charge against him and the possible penalties," his attorney Pamela Mackey told the judge, waiving Bryant's right to hear the charges read in court.
Bryant, who previously enjoyed a squeaky-clean image, is accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old hotel concierge in his room at a luxury resort on June 30.
He did not say anything during the proceedings and instead sat solemnly beside his lawyers with his hands clasped on the table in front of him.
'Real person'
The young woman's parents, two brothers and a cousin sat quietly behind prosecutors, casting impassive glances at Bryant during the hearing. He did not look back.
It marked the first time since the case started that the alleged victim's family have attended court proceedings, which have been mobbed by armies of journalists covering the celebrity case.
"They felt it was important to let people know there is a real person in this case and that she has support," said prosecution spokesperson Krista Flannigan.
The alleged victim has been the object of verbal abuse and even death threats since accusing one of the world's best-known sports stars of rape.
District court Judge Terry Ruckriegle discussed issues including forensic testing on key piece of prosecution evidence in the trial, which he ruled must be completed within 30 days to allow the high-profile case to move forward.
Prosecutor Mark Hurlbert told the court investigators were still testing evidence and the judge warned that if evidence was to be tested to destruction, the defence must be allowed to observe the process.
It was unclear what the evidence was, but Denver-based criminal attorney Dan Recht, who attended the hearing, said the prosecution appeared to be at pains to protect it.
"There's some kind of evidence that is very important and there is so little of it that to test it is to destroy it," he said.
Judge Ruckriegle ordered Bryant to appear in court on December 19 for a hearing at which a date for his trial, which defence and prosecution lawyers said was expected to last between two and three weeks, could be set.