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A chronology of events in the investigation of sexual assault
allegations against Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant:
2003
June 30: Bryant arrives at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera near
Edwards, Colo., the day before knee surgery at Steadman Hawkins
Clinic in Vail.
July 1: A 19-year-old front desk employee tells Eagle County
Sheriff's Department that Bryant sexually assaulted her. Bryant
undergoes surgery.
July 2: The woman and Bryant are taken separately to a hospital
for examinations.
July 4: Sheriff Joe Hoy issues an arrest warrant for Bryant,
who has since returned to California. Bryant flies back to Eagle
County, surrenders and is released after posting $25,000 bond.
July 6: Bryant's arrest is made public. Hoy refuses to release
booking photo.
July 18: District Attorney Mark Hurlbert files single count of
felony sexual assault. Bryant says he committed adultery but is
innocent of assault.
Aug. 6: Bryant makes initial court appearance.
Oct. 2: Judge says the woman does not have to testify at
preliminary hearing and denies defense requests to see her medical
records.
Oct. 9: Preliminary hearing begins, ends Oct. 15.
Oct. 20: Judge rules Bryant must stand trial.
Nov. 13: Bryant makes first appearance before trial judge, puts
off formal plea.
2004
Jan. 23: Iowa man John Roche pleads guilty to making
telephone death threat against Bryant's accuser. He is later
sentenced to four months in prison.
Jan. 29: NBA fans select Bryant as All-Star Game starter.
Feb. 2: Citing illness, Bryant skips first day of two-day
evidentiary hearing.
March 1-2: Defense attorneys say accuser had sex with someone
else less than 15 hours after her alleged assault. Her attorney
denies the claim.
March 24: The accuser faces Bryant for first time since
incident, testifies for three hours behind closed doors about her
sexual history. Defense says details may prove she was injured
during sex with someone else the week of the incident.
March 25: Bryant's accuser asks judge to set trial date. In
letter, her mother says she fears for daughter's safety because of
death threats.
May 10: Accuser makes surprise appearance to watch pretrial
hearing.
May 11: Bryant pleads not guilty.
May 27: The judge orders AT&T Wireless Communications Inc. to
turn over records of cell-phone text messages sent between the
accuser, a former boyfriend and another unidentified person within
hours of the alleged attack.
June 1: The judge prohibits use of term "victim" at trial,
agreeing with defense arguments that the term implies guilt.
June 10: The judge rejects a defense bid to overturn the
state's rape shield law. He later rejects defense request to
instruct jurors that investigators failed to gather evidence that
could have suggested Bryant is innocent.
June 25: Judge schedules jury selection to begin Aug. 27; court
reporter accidentally releases transcripts of closed-door hearing
to news organizations and judge issues order threatening contempt
of court for any that publish the details. Court fight ensues.
June 30: DA Hurlbert announces he will not take a lead role for
the prosecution during the trial, citing responsibility to oversee
other cases.
July 8: Attorney for accuser hires Lin Wood, a libel
attorney who has defended the parents of slain 6-year-old Jon Benet
Ramsey.
July 9: Swiss Patrick Graber, accused of offering to kill
accuser for $3 million, sentenced to three years in prison after
pleading guilty to reduced charges.
July 13: Accuser's attorney asks judge to halt Internet posting
of court filings. Request is later denied.
July 14: Judge rules prosecutors can use certain evidence
collected from Bryant, including his statements to investigators
and bloodstained T-shirt. Bars evidence collected from Bryant at
hospital because investigators botched court orders.
July 16: Jury summonses sent to 999 Eagle County residents.
July 23: Judge says information about the accuser's sexual
activities in the three days before her hospital exam can be
admitted as evidence.
Aug. 2: After losing First Amendment fight with media, judge
releases closed-door hearing transcripts in which a defense expert
says she believes accuser had sex with someone else after her
encounter with Bryant and before her hospital exam. Defense also
says accuser has received nearly $20,000 from state victims'
compensation fund.
Aug. 10: Accuser files civil lawsuit against Bryant in federal
court, seeking unspecified damages for pain, suffering, "public
scorn, hatred and ridicule." Prosecution files motion to delay
case indefinitely.
Aug. 11: Prosecution files sealed appeal with Colorado Supreme
Court asking for review of ruling allowing use of information about
the accuser's sexual activities.
Aug. 13: Judge denies prosecutors' request to delay trial
indefinitely, but grants their motion to limit evidence and
testimony about the accuser's mental health and any drug and
alcohol use.
Aug. 16: Colorado Supreme Court refuses to consider
prosecution's appeal on ruling allowing use of information about
the accuser's sexual conduct.
Aug. 24: Judge sharply limits media camera coverage of trial.
Aug. 27: Jury selection begins.
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