ducks
10-03-2003, 09:26 PM
Friend of Bryant's accuser says she attempted suicide twice, but is
DENVER (AP) _ The woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape attempted suicide twice this year, but feels emotionally strong as the case against the NBA star proceeds, a friend said.
In an interview to be aired Saturday on CBS's ``48 Hours Investigates,'' Johnray Strickland confirmed the 19-year-old woman attempted suicide twice this year.
``I think we have all moved on from that and that was a dark time,'' he said.
``She is a completely stable person,'' he said. ``These things had happened to her but she has been through so much and she is continuing to go through so much.''
Strickland said the woman asked him to tell part of her story. He is not bound by a judge's gag order that silences people directly involved in the case.
``She just wanted somebody to come out and really stand up for her,'' he said.
Strickland, 19, met the woman while the two attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley early this year. He has returned to school; she has not. He said they dated for a time and remain close friends.
He said she is scared of Bryant and would like to see him jailed.
Bryant, 25, is charged with sexual assaulting the woman June 30 in his suite at a mountain resort where she worked. The Los Angeles Lakers' guard has said the two had consensual sex. Free on $25,000 bond, the Los Angeles Lakers star is scheduled to appear Thursday in Eagle for a preliminary hearing to determine whether he will stand trial.
Prosecutors indicated they plan to hire a specialist in strangulation injuries and other expert witnesses to testify at trial.
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert has asked for nearly $200,000 above his proposed 2004 budget of $2.1 million to cover expenses in the case, including $143,000 for additional staff and $45,500 for expert witnesses and other trial preparation costs, spokeswoman Krista Flannigan said Friday.
Flannigan would not comment on what kind of testimony the prosecution expected from the experts.
Hurlbert, whose district covers Eagle, Summit, Clear Creek and Lake counties, told officials from the counties Thursday that the Bryant case will require more money.
Eagle County commissioners earlier this year approved an additional $105,000 for Hurlbert's office for expenses in the case that could come up this fiscal year, which ends Dec. 31.
Summit County Commission Chairman Gary Lindstrom said he expected the counties to approve the new request. link (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/gen/wire?messageId=24275964)
DENVER (AP) _ The woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape attempted suicide twice this year, but feels emotionally strong as the case against the NBA star proceeds, a friend said.
In an interview to be aired Saturday on CBS's ``48 Hours Investigates,'' Johnray Strickland confirmed the 19-year-old woman attempted suicide twice this year.
``I think we have all moved on from that and that was a dark time,'' he said.
``She is a completely stable person,'' he said. ``These things had happened to her but she has been through so much and she is continuing to go through so much.''
Strickland said the woman asked him to tell part of her story. He is not bound by a judge's gag order that silences people directly involved in the case.
``She just wanted somebody to come out and really stand up for her,'' he said.
Strickland, 19, met the woman while the two attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley early this year. He has returned to school; she has not. He said they dated for a time and remain close friends.
He said she is scared of Bryant and would like to see him jailed.
Bryant, 25, is charged with sexual assaulting the woman June 30 in his suite at a mountain resort where she worked. The Los Angeles Lakers' guard has said the two had consensual sex. Free on $25,000 bond, the Los Angeles Lakers star is scheduled to appear Thursday in Eagle for a preliminary hearing to determine whether he will stand trial.
Prosecutors indicated they plan to hire a specialist in strangulation injuries and other expert witnesses to testify at trial.
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert has asked for nearly $200,000 above his proposed 2004 budget of $2.1 million to cover expenses in the case, including $143,000 for additional staff and $45,500 for expert witnesses and other trial preparation costs, spokeswoman Krista Flannigan said Friday.
Flannigan would not comment on what kind of testimony the prosecution expected from the experts.
Hurlbert, whose district covers Eagle, Summit, Clear Creek and Lake counties, told officials from the counties Thursday that the Bryant case will require more money.
Eagle County commissioners earlier this year approved an additional $105,000 for Hurlbert's office for expenses in the case that could come up this fiscal year, which ends Dec. 31.
Summit County Commission Chairman Gary Lindstrom said he expected the counties to approve the new request. link (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/gen/wire?messageId=24275964)