"Rape charge against basketball superstar is dismissed"

A rape charge against US basketball superstar Kobe Bryant has been dismissed by a Colorado judge after his alleged victim refused to give evidence.

The LA Lakers player was accused of raping a hotel worker as she entered his hotel room last June at a Vail-area resort in Colorado.

Judge Terry Ruckriegle threw out the charges "with prejudice", meaning the case can never be tried again, after the 20-year-old accuser refused to testify under oath at the trial.

Full Article : independent.co.uk

DNA evidence forces prosecutors to drop Kobe Bryant rape case
The prosecution of basketball superstar Kobe Bryant on rape charges was on the verge of collapse last night as prosecution sources told several media outlets they would ask the judge to drop the charges as early as today.

The case, which caused a sensation when it first surfaced because of the Los Angeles Laker's hitherto squeaky-clean image, has been in trouble for months because of conflicting evidence surrounding last year's encounter between Mr Bryant and a young receptionist at a hotel in the Colorado Rockies.

The accuser alleged she had medical evidence to show that Mr Bryant had forced himself on her in his room - contradicting the star's assertion that their encounter had been consensual. However, a DNA test traced hair and semen found in her underwear to someone other than Mr Bryant, indicating she had had more than one sexual partner around the time of the alleged assault.

Full Article : independent.co.uk

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Thursday, September 2nd, News Update posted:

Rape charge against basketball superstar is dismissed

Read Kobe Bryant's Apology To Accuser

"First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize want to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure. I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colo.

I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case.

Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.

Full Article : thedenverchannel.com