Denver, Oct 15: Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case have asked an American judge to close all or part of the remainder of the preliminary hearing. The request was in response to an earlier suggestion by the basketball superstar's lawyer, Pamela Mackey, that the injuries suffered by Bryant's accuser could have been the result of "sex with three different men in three days".
The implication by Mackey on the opening day of the preliminary hearing caused the judge to immediately halt proceedings.
Legal experts also accused Mackey of trying to run a "smear" campaign against the 19-year-old Colordao teen and former high-school cheerleader.
Bryant's preliminary hearing is expected to resume today in front of judge Fred Gannett.
The purpose of the preliminary hearing is for Gannett to digest the evidence and statements from witnesses and then determine whether there is enough cause to go to trial.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bryant was arrested in July and charged with sexually assaulting an employee of a luxury spa resort where he was staying in the western state of Colorado on June 30.
The 25-year-old faces up to life in jail if convicted on the felony charge, which in Colorado is equivalent to rape.
Bryant, who is free on 25,000 dollars' bail, has strongly denied the allegations of rape but has admitted committing adultery with the woman, who has been the target of a wave of death threats.
Bureau Report