Colorado, Oct 21: A judge has ruled that US basketball star Kobe Bryant must stand trial on a charge of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman. Judge Frederick Gannett said that prosecutors had offered enough evidence that the LA Lakers player might have committed the crime in Colorado in June.
Bryant has denied that he assaulted the woman, but if found guilty on what is essentially a charge of rape, he could face a life prison sentence.
Even if he is cleared, he could lose millions of dollars in lost sponsorship deals.
The judge's ruling came after a preliminary court hearing in Eagle, Colorado. Byrant is now scheduled to appear in a district court on 10 November, with a full trial likely within six months after that.
Bureau Report