Kobe wins this round

By AP

Sat, July 24, 2004

IN A HUGE victory for Kobe Bryant, the judge in the NBA star's sexual assault case ruled yesterday that his accuser's sex life during the week of their encounter can be used against her at trial. District Judge Terry Ruckriegle said in Denver that details of the woman's sexual activities in the three days before her July 1, 2003, hospital examination are relevant to help determine the cause of her injuries and the source of DNA evidence. He also said the credibility of the accuser was a factor.

Colorado's strict rape-shield law, which generally prevents the sex life of an alleged assault victim from being admitted as evidence, does not apply to all the information Bryant's lawyers want to introduce, the judge said.

Bryant, 25, faces an Aug. 27 trial on a charge of felony sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty, saying he had consensual sex the woman, then 19.

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