LittleGeneral
08-03-2003, 10:33 AM
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2...30,00.html (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,93630,00.html)
EAGLE, Colo. — Kobe Bryant (search) and his wife attended the 2003 Teen Choice Awards (search) in Los Angeles Saturday as two more witnesses surfaced in the sexual assault case embroiling the basketball star.
A co-worker of the 19-year-old hotel employee who accused Bryant of assaulting her June 30 told Fox News the woman was visibly "shocked and upset" after leaving his room.
In addition, Fox News has learned that the woman told another co-worker who drove her home after the alleged assault that she had been "forced to have sex with Kobe Bryant."
The co-worker, a bellman at the resort, told friends and fellow employees at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera (search) that the woman was crying after the alleged attack and her clothing was torn. He also said he drove her home minutes after she emerged from Bryant's hotel room. It had previously been believed that the woman waited until the following day to tell anyone about the alleged incident.
When reached by Fox News, the bellman, also a friend of the accuser, said he had been instructed not to talk about the case.
The Los Angeles Lakers (search) guard, who admits having had sex with the accuser but denies sexual assault, appeared with his wife Vanessa at the Universal Amphitheater on Saturday, TV program "Entertainment Tonight" reported. The couple, whose attendance was unexpected, stopped on the red carpet to pose for photos and wave to fans, but did not speak to reporters.
Bryant has made few public appearances since being faced with the assault charges.
The Teen Choice Awards is set to air Wednesday on Fox -- the same day Bryant is expected at a hearing in front of a Colorado judge.
When Bryant steps into the courtroom for his initial court appearance, TV viewers across the country will watch as a judge advises the NBA superstar of his rights, the sexual assault charge against him and the possible penalty.
But the high-profile nature of the hearing could help Bryant bolster his tarnished image, especially if he brings his wife, said Stan Goldman, professor at Loyola Law School-Los Angeles. "The fact that he is not sloughing this off might be important."
Bryant probably will respond with "yes" and "no" answers to the judge's questions and be on his way in under 30 minutes.
"In a normal case, this whole matter could take two minutes," said Craig Silverman, a former Denver prosecutor and current defense attorney. "Everybody wants a little show on Aug. 6 and apparently we're going to have one."
Bryant, 24, has said he had sex with the resort employee on June 30 but denies her claims of sexual assault. He's free on $25,000 bond.
Bryant's defense lawyers asked Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett to allow Bryant to skip the hearing, citing it as a common practice in Colorado for out-of-state defendants. Gannett denied the request, saying it's vital for Bryant to appear.
Frank Jackson, a Dallas criminal defense attorney, said celebrity defendants typically skip routine hearings.
Of the judge's decision, Jackson said, "I think it's being a little heavy handed."
Gannett is likely to schedule a preliminary hearing, during which he'll determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial in state district court.
Bryant's attorneys could waive the preliminary hearing, even though they could get a hint at the prosecutor's strategy. Such hearings rarely go in favor of a defendant, and Bryant's attorneys are unlikely to want the alleged victim's allegations detailed in open court, Silverman said.
EAGLE, Colo. — Kobe Bryant (search) and his wife attended the 2003 Teen Choice Awards (search) in Los Angeles Saturday as two more witnesses surfaced in the sexual assault case embroiling the basketball star.
A co-worker of the 19-year-old hotel employee who accused Bryant of assaulting her June 30 told Fox News the woman was visibly "shocked and upset" after leaving his room.
In addition, Fox News has learned that the woman told another co-worker who drove her home after the alleged assault that she had been "forced to have sex with Kobe Bryant."
The co-worker, a bellman at the resort, told friends and fellow employees at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera (search) that the woman was crying after the alleged attack and her clothing was torn. He also said he drove her home minutes after she emerged from Bryant's hotel room. It had previously been believed that the woman waited until the following day to tell anyone about the alleged incident.
When reached by Fox News, the bellman, also a friend of the accuser, said he had been instructed not to talk about the case.
The Los Angeles Lakers (search) guard, who admits having had sex with the accuser but denies sexual assault, appeared with his wife Vanessa at the Universal Amphitheater on Saturday, TV program "Entertainment Tonight" reported. The couple, whose attendance was unexpected, stopped on the red carpet to pose for photos and wave to fans, but did not speak to reporters.
Bryant has made few public appearances since being faced with the assault charges.
The Teen Choice Awards is set to air Wednesday on Fox -- the same day Bryant is expected at a hearing in front of a Colorado judge.
When Bryant steps into the courtroom for his initial court appearance, TV viewers across the country will watch as a judge advises the NBA superstar of his rights, the sexual assault charge against him and the possible penalty.
But the high-profile nature of the hearing could help Bryant bolster his tarnished image, especially if he brings his wife, said Stan Goldman, professor at Loyola Law School-Los Angeles. "The fact that he is not sloughing this off might be important."
Bryant probably will respond with "yes" and "no" answers to the judge's questions and be on his way in under 30 minutes.
"In a normal case, this whole matter could take two minutes," said Craig Silverman, a former Denver prosecutor and current defense attorney. "Everybody wants a little show on Aug. 6 and apparently we're going to have one."
Bryant, 24, has said he had sex with the resort employee on June 30 but denies her claims of sexual assault. He's free on $25,000 bond.
Bryant's defense lawyers asked Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett to allow Bryant to skip the hearing, citing it as a common practice in Colorado for out-of-state defendants. Gannett denied the request, saying it's vital for Bryant to appear.
Frank Jackson, a Dallas criminal defense attorney, said celebrity defendants typically skip routine hearings.
Of the judge's decision, Jackson said, "I think it's being a little heavy handed."
Gannett is likely to schedule a preliminary hearing, during which he'll determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial in state district court.
Bryant's attorneys could waive the preliminary hearing, even though they could get a hint at the prosecutor's strategy. Such hearings rarely go in favor of a defendant, and Bryant's attorneys are unlikely to want the alleged victim's allegations detailed in open court, Silverman said.