Kobe Bryant's Statement: ""First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure. I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colo.

I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case. 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. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.

I issue this statement today fully aware that while one part of this case ends today, another remains. I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado."

· Prosecutors Drop Sex Case Against Bryant. With the parents of the 20-year-old accuser looking on, District Judge Terry Ruckriegle threw out the case under a deal that means no charges will be refiled. In a motion made public Wednesday, defense attorneys said a forensics expert whom prosecutors had planned to call as a witness had information that "undermined the accuser's allegations and the prosecution's case, and corroborated Mr. Bryant's defense on a central issue - the cause and significance of the accuser's alleged injuries."

"A person's life and liberty are at stake," the defense attorneys wrote. "The game of hide-the-ball, find-it-if-you-can discovery is intolerable. This court must vindicate Mr. Bryant's constitutional rights and impose meaningful sanctions against the prosecution."

· CNN: Bryant sex charge dismissed, says accuser's lawyer. A judge has dismissed the sexual assault charge against NBA star Kobe Bryant, the lawyer representing Bryant's accuser in a separate civil lawsuit said Wednesday. Attorney Lin Wood said the civil suit will continue.

· Judge Dismisses Kobe Bryant Criminal Case. The Kobe Bryant case collapsed Wednesday as prosecutors said they had no choice but to drop the sexual assault charge against the NBA star because the alleged victim did not want to testify.

· ABC Update: Prosecutor's case falls apart - Kobe charges to be dropped. Prosecutors will file a motion this afternoon to dismiss the sexual assault charge against Kobe Bryant, according to sources familiar with the case.

The motion will say that both the alleged victim and Bryant agree to the request. Prosecutors will ask that it be dismissed with prejudice, meaning that the charge can never be brought again.

· Reuters: Prosecutor to Drop Rape Charge Against Kobe Bryant. Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant rape case will ask a judge on Wednesday to drop the rape charge against the basketball player, a source close to the case said. The 26-year-old's defense team was seen rushing into the courthouse on Wednesday afternoon, followed a few minutes later by the young woman's attorneys John Clune and Lin Wood.

· CBS: DA To Reportedly Drop Kobe Case. Attorneys in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case have hastily assembled behind closed doors in an Eagle County courtroom, amid reports prosecutors are dropping the felony charge against Bryant.

· FOXNEWS: Kobe Prosecutors File to Dismiss Case. The prosecutors representing Kobe Byrant's accuser filed a motion to dismiss the sexual assault case against the NBA star.

· NBC: Prosecutors will ask for Kobe dismissal — with a catch. Prosecutors have agreed to dismiss sexual assault charges against Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant with one big catch — they want the right to retry the case at a later date, NBC News has learned.

The prosecutors will move to dismiss the case "without prejudice", according to the report, which means they can refile the case later. It is not known whether or not the judge is inclined to accept the motion.

· USATODAY: Prosecutors may seek dismissal in Kobe case. Kobe Bryant case was thrown into confusion Wednesday as attorneys hastily assembled behind closed doors amid reports the prosecution plans to drop the felony sexual assault charge against the NBA star. The prosecution will dismiss the high-profile case as early as Thursday, according to media outlets including MSNBC, ABC News and Court TV, all citing unidentified sources.

· Court TV: Charges against Bryant to be dropped. Attorneys in the Kobe Bryant case hastily assembled behind closed doors in the courtroom Wednesday amid reports prosecutors will drop the rape charges against the NBA star.

· Celebrity Justice: Secret Agreement Reached in Kobe Case. A secret deal has been reached between Kobe Bryant and his accuser in Bryant’s sexual assault case. Sources tell “CJ” the agreement is all but signed off on by both sides.

· Bryant Defense's Motion Focuses on Prosecution Medical Expert. Kobe Defense Files Motion to Dismiss Case. Respected medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden had been retained by prosecutors earlier this year to bolster their argument that the alleged victim's genital injuries proved that Bryant raped her. But sources familiar with the case say Baden disagreed, telling prosecutors that the minor lacerations and bruising could have come from consensual sex. Prosecutors then dropped Baden as a possible witness, which made defense attorneys suspicious. The defense then filed a motion to dismiss today citing that prosecutors intentionally withheld information favorable to Kobe, the sources said.

· Kobe Defense Files Motion to Dismiss Case. Attorneys for NBA star Kobe Bryant asked the judge to dismiss the sexual assault charge against him, saying prosecutors have refused to turn over details that could suggest he is innocent.

Why Anonymity is Gone For Kobe Bryant's Accuser. An in-depth look at the accuser, and why the prosecution's case is falling apart in Eagle, Colorado.

· Kate Faber's mother writes to the judge. Here is the letter provided to the judge in the Kobe Bryant rape case.

· She made eyes at me, Kobe said. Soon after he was accused of rape, basketball star Kobe Bryant told Colorado detectives he knew the accuser wanted to have sex with him because of the look on her face - but he would pay her off to get the matter dropped, according to a new report.

· The Science of the Brief Encounter. Kobe Bryant's sexual-assault trial is sure to have its He-Said-She-Said moments. But the story told by blood stains, body fluids and other physical evidence may decide his fate.

· Jury Selection in Bryant Case to Continue Behind Closed Doors. Attorneys in Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case are questioning prospective jurors on their attitudes about race, experiences with sexual assault and any effect intense pretrial publicity has had on them - but it's all happening behind closed doors.

· Attorneys work to seat jury for Bryant trial. Prosecutors and defense attorneys in Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case get a chance this week to see potential jurors eye-to-eye for the first time.

· Kobe Lawyers Read Juror Questionnaires. Attorneys in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case are spending the weekend scrutinizing 300 questionnaires filled out by prospective jurors, the first step in seating a panel that will decide whether the NBA star is guilty of rape.

· Wife wild card at Kobe's trial. She was at his side when he flew to Colorado to be booked on a rape charge, when he went before cameras to admit he cheated on her and when he signed a new $136 million contract with the Lakers. But Kobe Bryant's glamourous young wife, Vanessa, hasn't made a single appearance in the Eagle County courtroom where 12 strangers will decide his fate.

· Kobe jury selection begins. The Kobe Bryant rape trial defied expectation and opened yesterday with jury selection under tight security, a strict gag order and surprisingly little fanfare.

· Kobe Trial Jury Selection to Begin Today. After 14 months of sordid headlines and days of hearings that left unanswered questions, the sexual assault trial of NBA star Kobe Bryant was to begin with hundreds of people scheduled to arrive for the first wave of jury selection.

» Bryant judge criticizes late DNA challenge. On the eve of Kobe Bryant’s rape trial, a frustrated judge chastised prosecutors Thursday for waiting until the last minute to challenge DNA evidence the defense says shows the accuser had sex with someone else hours after her encounter with the NBA star.

· Prosecutors: Kobe Case DNA Could Be Contaminated. Crucial DNA evidence tested by defense experts in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case might have been contaminated, prosecutors said in a court filing released Wednesday, just two days before jury selection is to begin.

· Kobe Judge Restricts Media Coverage of Trial. The judge in the Kobe Bryant rape case on Tuesday sharply restricted how the news media may cover the trial using television and still cameras, saying he was worried too much exposure could threaten the fairness of the proceedings.

· Kobe's attorneys plan to zero in on accuser. Kobe Bryan'ts lawyers will continue their plan of shifting focus toward the NBA star's accuser when the trial starts Friday.

· Kobe Defense: Don't Release Statements. Defense attorneys argued in a court filing that Kobe Bryant's statements to investigators after the basketball player was accused of rape last summer should be kept secret because it is not yet certain they will be used in his trial.

· Judge Eases Gag Order in Kobe Case. The judge in Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case has suddenly eased the sweeping restrictions he imposed on people with a gag order earlier this month.

· Appeal on Kobe Accuser's Sex Life Denied. In another setback to the prosecution in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case, the Colorado Supreme Court refused Monday to hear an appeal of a key ruling that allows the NBA star's attorneys to tell jurors about the accuser's sex life.

· Kobe in court today with trial status looming. Events of past 2 weeks suggest prosecutors could drop charges. Kobe Bryant has one more date in court before jury selection begins in his sexual assault trial. Some are wondering if it will be the last time he steps into a criminal courtroom.

· Speculation mounts regarding Kobe dismissal. Kobe Bryant has one more date in court before jury selection begins in his sexual assault trial. Some are wondering if it will be the last time he steps into a criminal courtroom.

· Kobe Due Back in Court Tomorrow. With Kobe Bryant's sexual assault trial scheduled to begin in less than two weeks, speculation is mounting that prosecutors are looking for a way to dismiss the charge after a series of setbacks.

· Request denied for indefinite delay in Kobe case. The judge in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case denied a request from prosecutors for an indefinite delay in the trial late Friday, saying there was no justification for a postponement. Now the prosecutors can claim it was the judge's fault to drop the criminal case rather than blame themselves for their continued blunders.

· Bryant opposes delaying sexual assault trial. Attorneys for Kobe Bryant, accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Colorado resort, have filed papers opposing a plan by prosecutors to delay the basketball star's trial.

· Looser Gag Order Sought in Bryant Case. Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case have joined the NBA star's accuser in arguing that a strict gag order imposed by the judge makes it impossible for them to rebut rumors on the Web or allegations in released transcripts.

· Bryant judge faces decision, criticism. Pressure is mounting on the judge overseeing Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case, with prosecutors citing courthouse gaffes as a reason for seeking the indefinite delay of the NBA star's criminal trial and the father of his accuser blasting the bench for bias against the prosecution.

· Kobe Accuser's Father Blasts Judge in Letter. The father of Kobe Bryant's accuser has written a blistering letter to the judge overseeing the sexual assault case, saying his family has "lost trust that we can obtain a fair trial in your court."

· Shelve Kobe case. While prosecutors declined to comment, legal experts said it looks as though rookie District Attorney Mark Hurlbert is trying to make a fast break. "This is an attempt at a graceful exit," said Denver defense lawyer Jeralyn Merritt, who has followed the case closely. If Judge Terry Ruckriegle denies the motion, as expected, prosecutors can blame Ruckriegle for the problems with their case and say their hands are tied, analysts said.

· Scrambling: Prosecutors seek delay in Bryant trial. Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant sex-assault case have filed a motion seeking a delay in Bryant's trial. The Eagle County District Attorney's office filed the motion for continuance late Tuesday after hearing about Kobe's accuser filing a civil lawsuit.

· Kobe accuser's suing him. Kobe Bryant's accuser has a new message for the hoops star: Show me the money. The 20-year-old college student filed a civil suit against the L.A. Lakers guard yesterday, raising new questions about the future of the criminal case against him.

· Bryant's accuser files civil lawsuit. Woman seeks unspecified monetary damages for 'public scorn, hatred and ridicule.' The attorneys asked for a jury trial and compensatory damages of at least $75,000, with punitive damages to be determined later. With the filing, the woman’s attorneys backed up a threat they made a week ago. A criminal case requires a higher standard of proof to convict — beyond a reasonable doubt — and punishment can involve prison time. A civil case has a lower standard of proof — a preponderance of evidence — and punishment is usually a monetary award.

» Court Filing: Kobe Bryant Sued By Rape Accuser. The Colorado woman who has accused Kobe Bryant of rape today sued the NBA star in federal court, claiming that the athlete assaulted her last year in a hotel room at a Vail-area resort.

· Accuser's Attorneys Blast Bryant Judge. Attorneys for the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape have launched a startling attack on the trial judge, accusing him of trying to protect himself by imposing an unconstitutional gag order only after their client was "devastated" by some of the NBA star's evidence.

· Kobe Judge Keeps Posting Documents Online. The judge in the Kobe Bryant sex assault case has rejected a request by the woman accusing the NBA star of rape to stop placing court documents online — despite mistakes that have led to her name and other details being posted.

· Prosecutors remain confident in Bryant case. Attorneys prosecuting Kobe Bryant on rape allegations still have confidence in their case and are still moving forward, a District Attorney's Office spokeswoman said Thursday.

· Kobe Judge Issues New Gag Order. The judge in the Kobe Bryant case expanded a gag order after lawyers for Bryant's accuser said she would rethink whether to participate in the upcoming criminal trial.

· Case vs. Bryant is tottering. The prosecution of Kobe Bryant appeared on the verge of collapse last night after his accuser threatened to pull out of the criminal case and sue him in civil court instead.

· Kobe's Accuser May Discuss Dropping Case. The woman who accused Kobe Bryant of rape will have to discuss with prosecutors whether she will go ahead with the criminal case because she fears the release of court documents about her sex life threatens her chance of getting a fair hearing, one of her lawyers said.

· Shaquille O'Neal could be called to testify at Kobe Bryant rape trial. NBA star Shaquille O'Neal could be called to testify at his former teammate Kobe Bryant's rape trial amid new claims that Bryant groped another woman, Sports Illustrated is reporting.

· Kobe Bryant’s Alleged Victim May Have to Reconsider Testifying. Lawyers for the alleged sexual assault victim of Kobe Bryant say she may have to reconsider testifying against the NBA star at the criminal trial, in the wake of a series of damaging court mistakes that led to her name repeatedly being made public, along with allegations about her sexual history.

» Bryant Defense Expert Points to DNA from 'Mr. X.' Key DNA evidence shows that the 20-year-old woman who accuses Kobe Bryant of rape had sex with another man in the hours after her encounter with the Los Angeles Lakers star, a defense expert has testified.

· Report: Bryant groped woman in '02. Prosecutors plan to use Florida woman's testimony to establish history of sexual misconduct by Lakers star.

· Bryant judge releases closed-door transcripts. In a glimpse inside the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case, closed hearing transcripts released Monday show that a month before the judge cleared the way for the accuser's sex life to be used as evidence, prosecutors told him such a ruling would force them to re-evaulate their chances of winning a conviction.

· Colorado Hits New Lows With Kobe Case. The Kobe Bryant rape case is beginning to look and sound and feel a lot like another high-profile criminal case in Colorado that ended up making everyone who came near it look creepy and inept. From 1996 until just recently, the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation was a low point for the criminal justice system in the state.

· Bryant judge apologizes for court's mistakes. With the parents of the alleged victim in the courtroom, the judge in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case apologized Friday for court mistakes that led to the release of sealed information.

· Kobe defense says accuser's payment excessive. Kobe Bryant’s defense team says the woman accusing him of rape has received nearly $20,000 from a victims’ compensation fund in what it calls a rich incentive to pursue a false claim against the NBA star, according to a court transcript released Thursday.

· Bumbling Colorado court IDs alleged rape victim - for third time. In another mind-boggling screwup, Colorado court officials this afternoon again inadvertently disclosed the name of the alleged victim in the Kobe Bryant rape case.

· Sealed Kobe Evidence Mistakenly Posted on Web. Swabs taken from Kobe Bryant during a hospital exam found DNA from the NBA star and the woman accusing him of rape, but none from an unidentified person whose DNA showed up on other evidence in the case, the judge said in a sealed filing mistakenly posted Wednesday on a court Web site.

· Kobe Judge May Release Case Transcripts. Under pressure from the U.S. Supreme Court, the judge in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case indicated Tuesday he may release edited copies of transcripts from a closed-door hearing dealing with the accuser's sex life that were accidentally e-mailed to reporters.

· Prosecutors Still Planning Trial in Bryant Case. Prosecutors said Monday they still plan to take NBA star Kobe Bryant to trial on a sexual assault charge, despite a judge's decision that could make it harder to win a conviction.

· How The Kobe Case Should End. While the bumbling Eagle County prosecutors continue to lose ground on an already-weak case, here is CBS legal analyst Andrew Cohen's take on the Kobe case - and how DA Mark Hurlburt should make it end.

· Judge to allow Kobe accuser's sex history. In a huge victory for Kobe Bryant’s defense, the judge in the NBA star’s sexual assault case ruled Friday that his accuser’s sex life during the week of their encounter can be used against her at trial.

· Media appeal to Supreme Court in Kobe ruling. Media organizations asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to stay a court ruling that bars publication of closed-door hearing details in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case.

· Bryant accuser has considered backing out of case. In emotional arguments today, the lawyer for Kobe Bryant's accuser said the woman and her family felt betrayed by the people she trusted most - the judges presiding over the sex-assault case and the district attorney's office. The lawyer, John Clune, said at a pre-trial hearing today that this lack of faith in the system had previously caused the now-20-year-old woman to consider whether she should go forward with the case.

· Kobe Bryant's Accuser Says Her Privacy Threatened. A lawyer for the woman who has accused basketball star Kobe Bryant of rape was set to argue on Monday that court filings should no longer be published on the Internet because of errors that have identified the woman and jeopardized her safety.

· Lawyers for Kobe Bryant want the judge in his sexual assault trial to allow cell phone text messages between the NBA star's alleged victim, her former boyfriend and a third person to be introduced as evidence.

· Kobe judge still to rule on accuser's sex life. With less than six weeks before jury selection begins in Kobe Bryant’s sexual assault trial, only one major question remains for the judge to answer: whether the alleged victim’s sex life can be used against her.

· Kobe has 136 million reasons to stay in LA. Kobe Bryant is ready for his close-up. Like some movie-studio diva, Bryant orchestrated the departure of Shaquille O'Neal and coach Phil Jackson, then prolonged the suspense about his free-agent decision before agreeing yesterday to return to the Lakers for a seven-year contract valued at $136.4 million.

· Judge to allow Kobe's bloodstained shirt at trial. The judge in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case on Wednesday barred evidence from a medical exam performed on the NBA star, saying investigators didn’t have the proper court order to take him to the hospital in the middle of the night.

· Kobe's Accuser Hires Ramsey Lawyer. The law firm representing the woman Kobe Bryant is accused of raping has hired a prominent libel attorney who also defended the parents of JonBenet Ramsey.

· Bryant prosecutor will take smaller role at August trial. The Eagle County, Colo., prosecutor who has led the sexual assault case against Kobe Bryant since last summer said yesterday he will not take a prominent role in the NBA star's trial, instead leaving day-to-day responsibilities to his chief deputy and two others.

· Colorado Supreme Court Orders Judge in Bryant Case to Explain Order. The Colorado Supreme Court stepped into a First Amendment battle in the Kobe Bryant case Tuesday, ordering the trial judge to justify his threat to hold media organizations in contempt if they publish transcripts from a closed-door hearing. The transcripts were accidentally sent to seven media organizations last week.

· Sealed Kobe Documents Leaked to Press. Transcripts from closed-door testimony in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault hearings were mistakenly sent to seven media outlets on Thursday, prompting the case's judge to swiftly order that none of the sensitive material be published.

» Late August trial date set in Kobe case. Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case will begin on August 27, a date selected by State District Judge Terry Ruckriegle.

· Judge wraps up hearing on Bryant accuser's sex life; no trial date set. Attorneys wrapped up closed-door arguments Tuesday over whether the sex life of the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape can be introduced at the NBA star's trial. More written arguments are due next week.

· Both sides in Kobe Bryant case zeroing in on late August trial. Attorneys on both sides of the Kobe Bryant sexual assault trial sharply clashed over how to instruct potential jurors in the upcoming trial even as they appeared to agree on an August court date.

· Bryant prosecutors quit DNA retesting try. Prosecutors have abandoned their bid to retest DNA evidence in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case, accusing the NBA star’s defense team of wasting so much time that to start testing now would delay the trial.

· Kobe defense wins access to text messages. A judge has granted Kobe Bryant’s attorneys access to cell phone text messages sent among three people — including the woman accusing the NBA star of rape — in the hours after the alleged attack.

· Jurors can submit questions in Kobe trial. When Kobe Bryant goes on trial later this year, jurors will be allowed to submit questions for witnesses in the sexual assault case under what is believed to be the first rule of its kind.

· Text Messages May Turn Up in Bryant Case. A few hours after NBA star Kobe Bryant had sex with a Vail-area hotel worker last summer, the woman exchanged cell phone text messages with a former boyfriend and someone else. What's in those messages could help determine whether the sex was consensual or whether Bryant is guilty of rape as charged. The judge himself said the content may be "highly relevant" to the case.

· Judge Bars Word 'Victim' From Kobe Trial. In a ruling made public Tuesday, state District Judge Terry Ruckriegle said he agreed with Bryant's lawyers that the term implies guilt and should not be used at trial. He said she must be referred to by name; or in jury instructions, where she must be referred to as "person."

· Defense Claims DNA Proof Against Kobe Accuser. Attorneys for basketball star Kobe Bryant (search) will state in court on Thursday that they have DNA evidence proving that the woman accusing their client of rape had sex with someone else in the hours following the alleged incident.

» Kobe gets good news on eve of court appearance. Sources close to the Kobe Bryant case are confirming that the prosecution's own lab has found scientific evidence that could prove that the alleged victim lied to detectives about having sex with another man after her encounter with Bryant.

· Bryant's lawyers suggest bias in investigation. A defense lawyer asked a judge Monday to approve expert witnesses he said will show that the investigation of rape charges against Kobe Bryant was shoddy enough to suggest bias against the NBA star.

· Kobe Pleads Not Guilty in Rape Case. Nearly 11 months after he was accused of rape, NBA star Kobe Bryant pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a single felony assault charge that could land him in prison for life.

· Accuser Testifies at Kobe Bryant Hearing for Second Time. The 19-year-old woman accusing NBA star Kobe Bryant of rape slipped into the courthouse through a fire exit Monday to testify for the second time since the case began.

· Kobe Bryant to be tried in early August. Lawyers and the judge in the sexual assault case of NBA star Kobe Bryant have agreed to begin the trial in early August, sources familiar with the case said Monday.

· Kobe to Enter Plea This Week. Although merely a formality, NBA star Kobe Bryant is expected to plead not guilty this week to charges he raped a 19-year old woman last summer.

» Kobe's Back In Eagle. Weighty arguments over which evidence will or will not be presented to the jury in the rape case against NBA star Kobe Bryant will take up much of the time in a three-day pretrial hearing this week.

· Kobe prosecutors want to bar 'O.J. expert.' In a court filing made public Friday, prosecutors said the NBA star's attorneys want to use John Ragle — an expert from the O.J. Simpson slaying trial — to discuss the investigation done at the Vail-area resort where Bryant allegedly raped a 19-year-old employee.

· Judge: TV camera allowed during Bryant plea. A judge Friday agreed to allow a TV camera into the courtroom next week when basketball star Kobe Bryant formally pleads not guilty to raping a 19-year-old Colorado woman in a case that has captured worldwide attention. The judge's order did not specify on which day during next week's three-day hearing from Monday through Wednesday Bryant will enter his plea.

· Bryant to enter plea during 3-day hearing in May. The judge in the Kobe Bryant case said Wednesday the NBA star will formally enter a plea in his high-profile sexual assault case sometime during a three-day hearing that starts May 10.

· Kobe Bryant Returns to Colorado; Trial Date Could Be Set. Closed hearings in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case could finally give way this week to open-court arguments on the trial date.

· Defense Barred From Kobe Accuser's Medical Records. The judge in the Kobe Bryant case dealt a blow to the defense on Wednesday by barring access to the medical records of the 19-year-old alleged rape victim.

· Prosecutor wants Kobe to enter a plea. Prosecutors, apparently frustrated by the slow pace of the sexual assault case against NBA star Kobe Bryant, accused the defense team of raising “preposterous” issues and dragging its feet.

· Bryant case could hinge on recording. Shortly after midnight July 2, two detectives with the Eagle County Sheriff's Department arrived at the Colorado mountain resort where basketball star Kobe Bryant was staying to recuperate from knee surgery.

· Kobe and Vanessa stronger than ever. Vanessa Bryant had had enough. On Jan. 4, after months of being a virtual prisoner in her own home to avoid the frenzy surrounding her husband's looming sexual assault case, Kobe Bryant's wife came out of her self-imposed seclusion.

· Kobe's Accuser Urges Judge to Set Trial Date. The 19-year-old woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape asked the judge Thursday to set a trial date so she can begin to put the case behind her, and her mother added her own heartfelt plea.

· Kobe Bryant's Accuser Says She Faces Death Threats A 19-year-old woman who accuses basketball star Kobe Bryant of rape pleaded with a judge on Thursday to set a trial date soon, saying she had received hundreds of death threats over the case.

"She has been forced to quit school, she cannot live at home, she cannot talk to her friends, and she has received literally hundreds of phone calls and e-mails threatening either death or mutilation," a motion to the court by her attorney said.

» Why The Kobe Case Is Moving Slowly. Kobe Bryant's accuser is frustrated and impatient. She wants her rape case against the basketball star to go to trial sooner rather than later so that she can get on with whatever she'll do with the rest of her life. She's fed up with the scrutiny and the cameras and the death threats and all the concomittant attention that comes with accusing a famous man of a heinous crime.

· Bryant, accuser face each other in courtroom. The 19-year-old woman who accuses Kobe Bryant of raping her answered questions about her sexual past for 3½ hours Wednesday in a closed-door pretrial hearing in the Eagle County courthouse.

» Watching & Waiting In Eagle, Colo. The prosecution spinmeisters were there as well as the defense bar boosters. So were the good citizens of Eagle, although the locals didn't seem nearly as interested in this hearing as they have seemed to be in the past. For example, no one shouted out this time to Bryant when he emerged from his SUV.

» Kobe ends long day by making short work of Kings. The Lakers' Kobe Bryant scores two of his game-high 36 points against the Kings on Wednesday. Bryant spent most of the day in a Colorado courtroom after attending a pretrial hearing on his sexual assault charge. He will return Thursday for another appearance.

· Kobe's Accuser Testifies About Sex Life. Kobe Bryant's accuser testified about her sex life for more than three hours Wednesday during a closed-door hearing that will determine whether any of the information can be introduced at Kobe's rape trial.

· A critical week for Kobe — in court and on court. Bryant faces accuser in Colorado on Wednesday, then tries to jet to L.A. in time to face Kings.

· Denver store hawks furniture from Bryant-case hotel. A wrought-iron desk chair, labeled with masking tape and marked with the number 35, is among the collection of furniture on sale at a South Broadway shop.

It is, according to furniture dealer Steve Farland, one of the pieces from Room 35 at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, notorious as Kobe Bryant's quarters during a June 30 encounter with a hotel clerk that led to a sexual-assault charge against the basketball star.

· Kobe Defense Wants More Info About Accuser. Kobe Bryant's defense team filed a motion Monday asking the judge to force the prosecution to give them any exculpatory evidence and information about the basketball star's accuser.

· Bryant's accuser must testify at hearing. Rejecting a prosecution appeal, the Colorado Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for Kobe Bryant's attorneys to ask the 19-year-old woman accusing him of rape detailed questions about her sexual past.

» No Limits on Kobe Accuser Testimony. Rejecting a prosecution appeal, the Colorado Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for Kobe Bryant's attorneys to ask the 19-year-old woman accusing him of rape detailed questions about her sexual past.

· Ruling on Kobe Accuser's Sexual History Appealed. Prosecutors have taken the Kobe Bryant case to the Supreme Court, saying the judge should not have granted a hearing on the sexual history of the woman accusing the NBA star of rape.

· Bryant's Accuser Is Ordered to Testify. The woman who accused Kobe Bryant of rape will face detailed questions about her sex life when she testifies in a closed hearing in three weeks, a judge has ruled.

· Kobe Accuser's Lawyer Denies Sex Allegation. The attorney for the alleged victim in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case on Tuesday denied defense claims that she had sex with another man the morning after her encounter with the NBA star.

· First Court Appearance for Kobe Bryant's Accuser Is Delayed. The judge Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case has reconsidered whether he'll allow defense attorneys to ask the alleged victim detailed questions about her sexual past.

· Key win for Kobe's defense team. In a move defense attorneys say will help them exonerate Kobe Bryant, the trial judge Monday ordered prosecutors to turn over two pairs of underwear belonging to the woman who has accused the NBA star of rape.

· Bryant's accuser subpoenaed. Kobe Bryant's accuser has been subpoenaed by defense attorneys to testify about parts of her sexual history and is scheduled to take the stand for the first time.

» Kobe's Accuser to Testify Next Week. Kobe Bryant's accuser is scheduled to testify next week at a hearing that will help determine whether her sexual history can be used against her during the NBA star's rape trial.

· Kobe's Defense Hammers Investigator. One detective admitted he didn't know a hospital exam of Kobe Bryant violated court rules and that he signed a document saying the NBA star was in custody. Another officer mistakenly blamed audio problems on a shirt button that didn't exist.

· Kobe Pretrial Hearing Update. The lead investigator in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case acknowledged Tuesday under defense questioning that the NBA star was subjected to a pre-dawn hospital examination in violation of state law.

» Bryant Defense Hammers Investigator On Procedures. Sheriff's Detective Doug Winters admitted he had signed an investigation document indicating Bryant had been officially detained, which would have required authorities to advise him of his rights to an attorney and to remain silent.

· Bryant book reveals alleged details in rape case. Several revelations are contained in the book, including the alleged victim slept with the bellman two days before the encounter with Bryant [the same bellman who is a key prosecution witness]; and the woman simply put on unclean underwear before going for the rape exam, explaining why semen from two other men was found in them.

· Testimony About Kobe's Statements to Investigators Gets Closed Hearing. A judge ruled that any evidence or testimony about statements Kobe Bryant made to investigators in his sexual assault case will be heard behind closed doors next week.

· Report: Not Bryant's First Hotel Worker Sex Encounter. According to a Celebrity Justice report, a hotel employee in Portland, Oregon claims she had several sexual encounters with Kobe Bryant at the hotel where she works.

· Book Reveals Sordid Details of Kobe Rape Case. A book about the Kobe Bryant rape case — the first so far — will likely create a firestorm of controversy when it's handed out at the next Bryant hearing on Monday.

· Hospital released Bryant accuser's records. Medical records not directly related to a sexual assault charge leveled by a 19-year-old woman against NBA star Kobe Bryant were given by mistake to his attorneys, it was revealed Friday in a Colorado courtroom.

· Kobe's Lawyers Suggest Racism. Kobe Bryant's defense team raised the issue of race in court Friday, saying black men have long been falsely accused of rape by white women.

· Kobe Bryant Hearing to Discuss Evidence. Key evidence for basketball superstar Kobe Bryant's defense against sexual assault allegations - the medical history of his accuser - may never be known to the public.

· Judge Closes Key Hearing in Kobe Case. Courtroom arguments over whether Kobe Bryant's accuser has given up her medical privacy rights will be closed to the public, the judge ruled Wednesday.

· Kobe Bryant loses McDonald's endorsement. Kobe Bryant lost his sponsorship deal with McDonald's, costing the NBA star another endorsement while his sexual assault case proceeds.

· Bryant defense claims accuser is bipolar, requests medical history. Defense lawyers for NBA star Kobe Bryant said in a court document filed Tuesday the woman who accuses Bryant of raping her suffers from a bipolar disorder, and that her medical and mental health history is vital to the case.

· Bryant defense blasts 'hand span' request. Defense lawyers for NBA star Kobe Bryant, accused of raping a hotel employee in Eagle, Colorado, said in court documents released Friday they had no objection to a prosecution request to measure the basketball player's hand span.

· Kobe's Attorneys Seek to Close Evidence Hearing. Attorneys for NBA star Kobe Bryant are asking the judge in his sexual assault case to close a February hearing to the public, saying evidence that will be discussed might taint the jury pool and may not even be allowed at trial.

· Kobe Booed In Denver. Crowd Chants 'Guilty! Guilty!' During 3rd Quarter, leading Denver to a 113-91 rout of the LA Lakers.

· Bryant Case Voted AP 'Sports' Story of Year. The young hotel worker's accusation was shocking enough: Thrilled by a chance encounter with a celebrity, she went to his room only to be forced over a chair and sexually assaulted. More startling was the name of the accused: Kobe Bryant.

· Kobe says he is 'Living in a Nightmare.' Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant said in a televised interview Thursday that he sometimes becomes distracted or scared as he fights a felony sexual assault charge.

· Kobe Prosecution Gains JonBenet Investigator. Prosecutors in the sexual assault case against NBA star Kobe Bryant are being helped by a respected investigator who recently was hired to help solve the JonBenet Ramsey slaying.

· Bryant Lawyers Subpoena Accuser's Mom. Defense lawyers have subpoenaed the mother of a 19-year-old woman who accused Kobe Bryant of sexual assault to appear at a hearing to examine whether the defense should see the accuser's medical records.

· Report: Kobe Accuser in Rehab Clinic. One more nail in the Prosecution's coffin as Kobe Bryant’s accuser enters a rehab facility after going on a wild binge of booze and marijuana. An Enquirer investigation has also uncovered a photo of the 19-year-old coed smoking from a pot pipe at a fraternity party just days before checking into the rehab center in Arizona.

· Report: Kobe Accuser Had Sex With Key Witness. Sources told the GLOBE that the 19-year-old woman who has accused Bryant of rape told them she had sex with the prosecution’s star witness Bobby Pietrack - a week before she met Bryant. Pietrack, a 23-year-old bellhop at the resort where the alleged rape took place, is the first person Katelyn Faber told about her encounter with Bryant.

He can testify about her emotional state and physical appearance at the time. But legal experts say that if there was a sexual encounter between Katelyn and the bellhop, it could wreck his credibility and sink the case of the Eagle County, Colo. prosecutor.

· Prosecutors Seek HIV Test for Bryant. Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case have filed a motion asking a judge to order the NBA star to undergo an HIV test.

· Bryant Case Triggers Dating Consent Form. Some single people are toting a legal consent form with them so they can get things in writing before they get intimate. The form lists what you will and will not do behind closed doors, and asks for the signature of both parties.

· No Plea for Kobe in Hearing. Basketball star Kobe Bryant appeared in a district court hearing Thursday but did not enter a plea in the sexual assault case against him.

· Kobe T-Shirts Cause Stink in Eagle County. Kobe Bryant has not yet entered a plea in the rape case against him, but some people closely involved with the case appear to have already made up their minds.

· Stores won't display paper ID'ing accuser. Colorado's two largest grocery chains are removing from news stands a supermarket tabloid that is publishing the identity of the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape.

· Kobe's Accuser Fully Exposed in Tabloid. The Globe tabloid is outing the 19-year-old woman who has accused NBA superstar Kobe Bryant of rape, splashing her name and a provocative photo on its front page - and sparking outrage from rape victims and advocates. The blonde is shown hiking up her skirt to show her leg and garter at her 2002 high-school prom.

· Prosecutors Accuse Kobe's Defense of Leaking Sealed Details to Media. Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case on Thursday angrily accused defense attorneys of leaking sealed details to the media and asked a judge to consider punishing the defense team.

· State mistakenly posts name of Kobe Bryant's accuser on Internet. The name of Kobe Bryant's accuser was mistakenly posted on a state court website Tuesday as part of a legal filing in the case.

· Kobe Bryant Ordered to Stand Trial. Basketball superstar Kobe Bryant will be tried on charges he raped a 19-year-old hotel worker.

· Kobe Bryant Court Documents. Detailed court documents of Judge's order for Kobe Bryant to stand trial.

· Accuser either had an awfully active sex life - or didn't change her underwear very often. "The accuser arrived at the hospital wearing panties with someone else's semen and sperm in them, not that of Mr. Bryant, correct?" defense attorney Pamela Mackey asked. "That's correct," responded the detective.

· Detective Says Semen, Pubic Hair Not Kobe Bryant's. With Kobe Bryant's lawyers claiming to have "compelling evidence" of his innocence, a police detective testified on Wednesday that semen and pubic hair belonging to someone other than Bryant was found in the underwear of the woman who accuses him of rape.