DENVER, 18 July 2003 - A Colorado prosecutor was still reviewing evidence on Wednesday and not prepared to say if Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant will be charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman during a recent visit, the prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday.
“He is not going to make any announcement today and there is no press conference tomorrow. We’re not sure about Friday,” Arlene Sandberg, assistant to Eagle County district attorney Mark Hurlbert, said.
The state crime laboratory has been analyzing evidence in the case and Hurlbert said he was “still reviewing things and looking at stuff that has come in,” Sandberg said.
The 19-year-old woman who has accused Bryant of assaulting her on June 30 works as a concierge at The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera near the resort town of Vail where Bryant was staying.
Hurlbert said last week he hoped to have a decision on whether Bryant would face charges by this week.
That decision is being made under intense media scrutiny after Eagle County Sheriff Joe Hoy announced on July 6 that a warrant had been issued against Bryant for felony sexual assault and that the Los Angeles Laker and surrendered and posted a $25,000 bond.
The five-time NBA All-Star underwent surgery on his right knee at the Steadman Hawkins clinic on July 1, the day after the alleged attack. Bryant, 24, told the Los Angeles Times in an interview published on Sunday that he was innocent.
Because of the media interest in the case, the sheriff has hired a Denver law firm to field requests for records including the file on the Bryant case.
