(by Steve Henson)
Kobe Bryant turns his attention today from the NBA playoffs to the extended
pretrial hearings in his sexual assault case, the first of three days of pro-
ceedings that could conclude with his entering a plea.
First on the agenda is finishing the rape-shield hearing that began March 2
and already has taken up three days in Eagle County (Colo.) Court. The last few
of the nearly two dozen witnesses called by the defense are to provide testi-
mony about the sexual history of Bryant's accuser.
Among the witnesses will be Johnray Strickland, a former boyfriend of the 19-
year-old woman who spoke publicly in October about her mental health, saying
she was "borderline bipolar."
Bryant's attorneys are attempting to establish that the woman's sexual
activity in the days surrounding the encounter June 30 at a mountain resort is
relevant to the case and should be admissible at trial. Prosecutors say her
liaisons with other men are irrelevant and are inadmissible under Colorado's
stringent rape-shield law.
The rape-shield hearing and a suppression hearing on whether Bryant's state-
ments to investigators are admissible — the next item on the court's agenda —
will be closed to the media and the public.
Judge Terry Ruckriegle wrote in a scheduling order that he will take up two
additional items beginning Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
He wants a status report from the defense on DNA testing done on underwear
the accuser wore to a hospital examination the day after the alleged assault.
The testing was to be completed Friday at a Ventura County laboratory.
Ruckriegle also said he would hear arguments from both sides on whether
Bryant should enter a plea, which would force the judge to set a trial date
within six months under Colorado's speedy-trial law. The accuser's attorney and
prosecutors have filed motions asking that a trial date be set as soon as po-
ssible because the woman's life has been severely disrupted.
Bryant's attorneys have said they do not object to his entering a plea but
have deferred to Ruckriegle's wish to conclude pretrial hearings before doing
so.
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