I was watching the news last night and one of his former girlfriends is now "trying" coming forward as a character witness for Kobe. She claims she dated him back in '97 and says he is not the type that would try and force himself on anyone. Although she looked pretty sincere, I can't help thinking she wants some kind of financial compensation if he gets off... I'll try and find the story and post it on here.

Damn, can't find the article, but I've read that the accuser has a history of being a groupie with other LAkers. I think she had something with Van Axel once. As soon as I found the article, I'll post it.

I might not have seen anyone else post this but I heard the accuser recently ODed and this could be another cry for help. Either way I have no idea what happened or what-not but I hope the truth comes out and justice is served either way.

Here's an article I just saw, which does mention something about her OD'ing:




July 21, 2003


Kobe's Accuser Wants Him Jailed: Report


STEPHEN M. SILVERMAN




Kobe Bryant's unnamed accuser was "sick" watching the NBA star's tearful news conference Friday -- at which the L.A. Lakers guard denied sexually assaulting her -- and she "couldn't believe he was crying," a friend of the 19-year-old woman tells TV's "Celebrity Justice."
The friend also says that the accuser, a hotel clerk who claims Bryant "snapped" after she gave him a tour of the resort where he was staying, "doesn't want any money from Kobe. She just wants him to go to jail," according to the program, which plans to air the friend's interview Monday.

The "Celebrity Justice" source is not named, but a young woman named Rachel Yandle appeared on Monday's "Today" show essentially saying the same information -- adding that Bryant, at his news conference, was "trying to make it sound like nothing happened."

Bryant faced reporters Friday and declared his innocence only hours after he was charged with sexual assault -- a class-three felony that can carry a prison term of four years to life and a probation period of 20 years to life, said Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlburt.

Bryant is currently free on $25,000 bond.

The alleged incident occurred June 30 at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, a four-star lodge near the resort town of Vail where Bryant was staying and where the woman works.

After the charges were announced, Bryant, clutching the hand of his wife Vanessa, 21, appeared at a press conference inside L.A.'s Staples Center.

"I'm innocent, you know," he said. "I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent."

He went on to say, "I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making the mistake of adultery. And I love my wife with all my heart."

As a tear rolled down Bryant's left cheek, he then told his wife: "You're my backbone. You're a blessing. You're a piece of my heart. You're the air I breathe. And you're the strongest person I know, and I'm so sorry for having to put you through this and having to put our family through this."

Bryant stressed, "I'm innocent. And together my wife and I and our family, we're going to fight these false accusations."

Various press reports say the alleged victim is a familiar figure in Eagle as a former high school cheerleader and musician who last year tried out to be on "American Idol."

There also have been reports, including several mentions on Monday's "Today" show, that the accuser suffered a pill overdose last month. Neither Hurlburt nor Yandle would respond to questions about the accuser's stability.


http://people.aol.com/people/news/no...465859,00.html

A Tough Summer—And Maybe a Hard Fall—For Kobe

A popular basketball star’s uexpected run-in with the law

July 21 issue — Kobe Bryant thought his summer could get no worse. His L.A. Lakers had been knocked out of the playoffs, they were about to sign Utah’s superstar Karl Malone (who could cut into Bryant’s fan base) and he had to have shoulder surgery. In fact, his troubles had just begun. On July 4, Bryant, 24, was arrested for sexual assault on a 19-year-old woman in a Colorado hotel.

ONE REPORT suggests the woman, a desk clerk at the hotel, was delivering room-service food to Bryant; sources close to him say he invited her up. After an indeterminate length of time, she reportedly returned to the lobby “in hysterics”; both she and Bryant briefly checked in to local hospitals. Bryant turned himself in to the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and agreed to give DNA evidence; he was released on $25,000 bond; early this week, after the analysis of evidence taken from both Bryant and his accuser, the D.A. will decide whether to file charges. Bryant’s lawyer says he’s innocent, and the Sheriff’s Office is already under fire from the press for issuing an arrest warrant before the D.A. had seen the evidence.

“I don’t know what happened,” says teammate Kareem Rush, “but I do know Kobe, and that’s not the guy I know.” That was the prevailing attitude among both Lakers and rival players after the arrest became public. For the past seven years, Bryant has been one of the NBA’s shining stars, not just a standout player but a clean-cut alternative to the likes of Allen Iverson, known as much for off-court run-ins with police as for on-court prowess. Kobe’s No. 8 is the jersey most often purchased by fans.

[bold]A number of NBA players have said Bryant’s accuser, a college student and former high-school cheerleader, is well known as a basketball groupie.[/bold] That’s not what people say in her hometown—though she did play a Conrad-crazy fan in a school production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” Acquaintances call her “a good girl from a good family” who wouldn’t bring a false accusation—though they also hint at a family estrangement and a recent “hard time.” A high-school classmate told NEWSWEEK the teen was a singer who’d tried out for “American Idol” last year: “She’s a very nice girl, and I don’t know anyone who had problems with her. But I don’t want to comment one way or another on this case, because I don’t know what happened.”

Bryant, too, has had family troubles, ever since his marriage to an 18-year-old high-school student. His parents and sisters moved from the homes he’d bought them in L.A. back to Philadelphia; Bryant’s father has said he’s never seen his 5-month-old granddaughter. “That’s been real difficult for Kobe,” says an NBA player who asked not to be named. “Now he has to deal with this—I’m not sure he can deal with this—without support.” One source told NEWSWEEK Bryant’s wife has kicked him out. Whether that’s true or not, we can confirm that Bryant, his wife and his accuser will not enjoy the rest of the summer.
—Allison Samuels with Jamie Reno

© 2003 Newsweek, Inc.

A Tough Summer—And Maybe a Hard Fall—For Kobe

A popular basketball star’s uexpected run-in with the law

July 21 issue — Kobe Bryant thought his summer could get no worse. His L.A. Lakers had been knocked out of the playoffs, they were about to sign Utah’s superstar Karl Malone (who could cut into Bryant’s fan base) and he had to have shoulder surgery. In fact, his troubles had just begun. On July 4, Bryant, 24, was arrested for sexual assault on a 19-year-old woman in a Colorado hotel.

ONE REPORT suggests the woman, a desk clerk at the hotel, was delivering room-service food to Bryant; sources close to him say he invited her up. After an indeterminate length of time, she reportedly returned to the lobby “in hysterics”; both she and Bryant briefly checked in to local hospitals. Bryant turned himself in to the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and agreed to give DNA evidence; he was released on $25,000 bond; early this week, after the analysis of evidence taken from both Bryant and his accuser, the D.A. will decide whether to file charges. Bryant’s lawyer says he’s innocent, and the Sheriff’s Office is already under fire from the press for issuing an arrest warrant before the D.A. had seen the evidence.

“I don’t know what happened,” says teammate Kareem Rush, “but I do know Kobe, and that’s not the guy I know.” That was the prevailing attitude among both Lakers and rival players after the arrest became public. For the past seven years, Bryant has been one of the NBA’s shining stars, not just a standout player but a clean-cut alternative to the likes of Allen Iverson, known as much for off-court run-ins with police as for on-court prowess. Kobe’s No. 8 is the jersey most often purchased by fans.

A number of NBA players have said Bryant’s accuser, a college student and former high-school cheerleader, is well known as a basketball groupie.That’s not what people say in her hometown—though she did play a Conrad-crazy fan in a school production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” Acquaintances call her “a good girl from a good family” who wouldn’t bring a false accusation—though they also hint at a family estrangement and a recent “hard time.” A high-school classmate told NEWSWEEK the teen was a singer who’d tried out for “American Idol” last year: “She’s a very nice girl, and I don’t know anyone who had problems with her. But I don’t want to comment one way or another on this case, because I don’t know what happened.”

Bryant, too, has had family troubles, ever since his marriage to an 18-year-old high-school student. His parents and sisters moved from the homes he’d bought them in L.A. back to Philadelphia; Bryant’s father has said he’s never seen his 5-month-old granddaughter. “That’s been real difficult for Kobe,” says an NBA player who asked not to be named. “Now he has to deal with this—I’m not sure he can deal with this—without support.” One source told NEWSWEEK Bryant’s wife has kicked him out. Whether that’s true or not, we can confirm that Bryant, his wife and his accuser will not enjoy the rest of the summer.
—Allison Samuels with Jamie Reno

© 2003 Newsweek, Inc.

Ok, is it just me or are these statements contradicting. If his wife meant that much to him...he would have been faithful to his wife in the first place.

We might be well advised to just kinda sit back and let the legal system sort this thing out.

From all I've heard in local and national news reports, Bryant has acted in an exemplary manner -- at least following the accusation -- submitting to tests, flying in from LA to surrender to local authorities (as opposed to sending a lawyer or someone), etc.

We know absolutely nothing about the young woman involved, except what may or may not be rumors which paint her either as an All-America cheerleader or a highly disturbed person.

So, this could be a rape, consensual sex or a seduction. At this point, there are probably only two people who know for sure.

There is at least some amount of speculation that had the alleged crime happened in a larger city, the DA might be a lot less likely to assume he has a case. Read that how you will.

At the moment, there is a reasonable chance the trial will be moved to Denver. It will still be a media circus, but at least the "small town carnival" atmosphere will be somewhat attenuated in a town which is more used to this type of crime and trial. Remember, the OKC Bombing trial was held here -- which is perhaps a little bigger deal.

Isn't it?

I am not so sure. Can't you love someone and still be attracted to someone else and want to have sex with her/him?

yeah, men do it all of the time
why should Kobe be any different?

plus, they didn't sign a pre-nupt
if he does get jail time, she'll divorce him

Does it phase anyone that she is an obvious attention seeker . . . I mean she went out for American Idol . . don't we have whole threads bashing those people lol?

Hey, we have threads bashing all kinds of people. Why should these be any different?

so you're saying that they should let him off just because there have been other cases where this happened???? that is faulty reasoning.

and if you want your reasoning to hold up, i have this to tell you. there HAVE ALSO been cases where a black man DID rape a white woman. so does this mean they should automatically find him guilty because it has happened before??? obviously not!

why does EVERYTHING always have to been about race. geez.

I agree with you. Once a historical precedent has been set, you start to look sideways when accusations are made.

Unless you know, you can never understand.

On Greta's show (FOX) the lawyers were talking and THEIR take is-the prosecutor sat on the facts of the case for two weeks before
formal charges were filed. He is Green...never had a big case. They expect Kobe's dream team to be intimidating and talented. They (prosecution) has lined up forensic scientists which USUALLY implies physical evidence. Though split within the group-there was a feeling that the prosecutor believe in the evidence of the case or he would have gone for a lesser charge. I think that is a fair summary.

As far an AI--SO WHAT! Just because someone likes to perform and has a talent for it doesn't mean she's seeking attention in any psycho way! IRRELEVANT IMO!

So she enjoys sports! So do LOTS of women! IRRELEVANT IMO!

I don't know WHAT the truth is here, but let's not assume she is playing this.
A TWIST!-WHAT IF- she took some drugs up there and they started in on each other, SHE gets rough and crazy and he has to ward HER off! He still wants to keep it quiet from his wife but is advised not to say she was attacking him because a jury wouldn't buy it! Ya NEVER know!