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KobeBryantLegal[i++] = new Array("","June","A view from outside the Lodge at Cordillera resort.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040503/040503_june_kobeTL.standard.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Kirk Speer", "Getty Images", "155", "298", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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KobeBryantLegal[i++] = new Array("","Feb. 15","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
Bryant, a starter for the West squad, scores 20 points in a 136-132 victory over the East. Shaquille O’Neal, who backed up starter Yao Ming at center for the West, scores 24 points and wins Most Valuable Player honors.";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
Cedric Vaughn Augustine, who allegedly threatened to kill both the alleged victim and the prosecutor in the case, is arrested by police and federal agents in Long Beach, Calif. ";
KobeBryantLegal[i++] = new Array("","March","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "March 11
The Colorado Supreme Court upholds a decision to allow questioning of the alleged accuser about her sexual past in a two-day closed hearing.";
KobeBryantLegal[i++] = new Array("","March 24","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
Bryant’s alleged accuser is questioned for three hours. It is the first time Bryant has faced her since the incident occurred on June 30, 2003.
Video: Big day for Bryant accuser";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
The mother of the alleged accuser sends a letter to the judge asking that a trial date be set as soon as possible, explaining that the slow progress of hearings is creating upheaval in her daughter’s life.
Video: Analyzing the Bryant case";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "April 19
The mother of Bryant's accuser speaks publicly for the first time, saying she was proud of her daughter amid the storm surrounding the sexual assault case. \"I would like to thank my daughter for teaching me about courage,\" the woman told about 100 people at a victims' advocates rally. \"I'm proud to be her mom.\" The accuser's father was also at the rally but did not speak.
Video: Mother of accuser speaks";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
Judge Terry Ruckriegle dealt the Kobe Bryant defense a blow when he ruled that they could not have access to the medical records of the 19-year-old woman accusing the star of rape. Judge Ruckriegle said no witness during three hearings convinced him that the woman had waived her confidentiality rights by talking about her medical condition. ";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
Judge Ruckriegle granted a prosecution request to have Bryant file a formal plea during a three-day hearing that begins May 10. Once the plea is entered, a trial must be held within six months unless Bryant waives the right to a speedy trial. Attorneys for both sides have said the earliest they could be ready for trial is late August or early September.
Video: Analyzing results of 3-day hearing
";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "May 11
As the parents of his accuser look on, Kobe Bryant pleads not guilty to a rape charge that was brought against him almost a year ago. Judge Ruckriegle then adjourns the hearing, saying he might set a trial date at a May 27 hearing. Bryant then flew back to Los Angeles, where he scored 42 points in the Lakers’ 98-90 playoff victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Video: Bryant pleads not guilty";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "In a potential big break for Bryant, it is reported that there is scientific evidence that the accuser had sex with someone else shortly after her encounter with Bryant. The prosecution asks for extra time to retest the evidence, making it impossible for Judge Ruckriegle to set a trial date.
Video: DNA wrangling at hearing";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "June 1
Judge Ruckriegle rules that Bryant's accuser may not be referred to as a \"victim\" in court, as that implies guilt. Ruckriegle also denied a motion that Bryant not be referred to as a \"defendant\", saying that was an accurate description of his legal status.";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
In an amazing performance in Game 2 of the Finals, Bryant hits a clutch 3-pointer in the final seconds to force overtime, and the Lakers go on to beat the Pistons 99-91. Bryant finishes with 33 points, but it will be the only game the Lakers win in the series.";
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Bryant's defense team fails in its bid to overturn Colorado's rape shield law. Judge Ruckriegle rejected the defense's claim that the law was unconsitutional. The defense, however, may still be allowed to introduce evidence of Bryant's accuser's sexual past if it is deemed relevant to the case.";
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Bryant hires controversial DNA expert Elizabeth Johnson to help with his case. Bryant's team wants Johnson to observe DNA testing, and expect to use her as an expert witness during the trial.";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
The Lakers are eliminated by the Detroit Pistons with a 100-87 defeat in Game 5. Bryant scores 24 points, but makes only 7 of 21 shots in what ended up a poor series for the star.";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
Judge Ruckriegle sets Aug. 27 as the starting date for the Bryant trial. The judge says he expects the trial to last three to four weeks, including the process of selecting a jury. NBA teams report to training camp in late September and early October.";
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A court reporter accidentally released transcripts of a closed-door hearing in the Kobe Bryant case, setting off a First Amendment battle between the judge and media organizations that received the documents. Judge Ruckriegle issued an order late Thursday threatening contempt of court if the material was published. The news organizations that received the transcripts, including The Associated Press, contended the order was unconstitutional, but none immediately reported on any of the material. The Colorado Supreme Court was to decide whether or not the media should be allowed to publish the transcripts.";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "July 1
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert announced that he will not take the lead role in prosecuting the Bryant case, but will instead provide general oversight as he leaves day-to-day responsibilities to his chief deputy and two others. Hurlbert says he would be neglecting his other duties if he became too closely involved in the case.";
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The Colorado Supreme Court decides to bar the media from publishing details from a closed-door hearing in the case that were accidentally e-mailed by a court reporter. In a 4-3 ruling in the First Amendment clash, the court backed judge Ruckriegle's decision. Colorado’s high court acknowledged the judge’s order amounts to prior restraint, but said such a step was permissible given the facts and context of the Bryant case.
Video: Colorado Supreme Court rules against media";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "August 2
After receiving pressure from state courts and the Supreme Court, Judge Ruckriegle reluctantly allows media outlets to publish transcripts from a closed door hearing that were accidentally emailed. According to documents, prosecutors told Ruckriegle they would have to re-evaluate their chances of winning the case. In response, the prosecution calls the information \"one-sided,\" and that it should not be used to judge the case against Bryant.";
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Sports Illustrated reports that prosecutors may try to show a pattern of bad behavior by Bryant with new information about another woman who claims the Lakers star fondled her during a party in 2002. The woman reportedly told prosecutors her story after Bryant was indicted in 2003. The incident allegedly occured at a Thanksgiving party at Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando home, leaving open the possibility that O'Neal would be called to testify at trial.";
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Due to fears of being unable to receive a fair trial as details of her sex life come to light, Bryant's accuser plans to discuss with the D.A. whether it is worthwhile to proceed with the criminal case, her lawyers say. The accuser was considering dropping the case in order to focus on a civil case. \"This young woman is not going away,\" one of the accuser's lawyers, John Clune, said. \"Whether it proceeds criminally or civilly or both, justice is going to be had for this young woman.\"
Video: Dropping the case?";
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Bryant's accuser files a federal civil lawsuit against the NBA star, a move legal experts said could cripple the criminal case less than three weeks before the trial begins. Attorneys for the 20-year-old woman asked for a jury trial and compensatory damages of at least $75,000, with punitive damages to be determined.
Video: Accuser files civil suit";
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Prosecutors ask Judge Ruckriegle to put the trial on hold indefinitely, saying courthouse gaffes have crippled the chances of seating an unbiased jury and suggesting the accuser is not ready to testify against the NBA star. Legal experts say the request for a delay could be the first step toward dropping the case altogether now that the accuser has sued Bryant in civil court for monetary damages. They said the civil case will hurt prosecutors because the defense can argue that the 20-year-old woman is simply after Bryant’s money.
Video: Prosecution asks for delay";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
Judge denies prosecutors’ request to delay trial indefinitely, but grants their motion to limit evidence about the accuser’s mental health, any drug or alcohol use.";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
Colorado Supreme Court refuses to consider prosecution’s appeal on ruling allowing use of information about the accuser’s sexual conduct.";
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KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "
Jury selection begins for the trial. ";
KobeBryantLegal[i++] = new Array("","September","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
KobeBryantLegal[i-1].body = "September 1
The case collapses as prosecutors say they have no choice but to drop the charge against Bryant because his accuser no longer wants to participate. Bryant, whose trial had been days from opening arguments, responded with an apology to the woman who had accused him.
\"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,\" Bryant said. \"I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.\"
With the parents of the 20-year-old alleged victim looking on, District Judge Terry Ruckriegle threw out the case under a deal that means no charges will be refiled.
Video: Bryant case is dismissed";
// END editorial data