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Friend: Kobe's Accuser Has Attempted Suicide But Is Stable

Strickland Says Alleged Victim Would 'Love' To See Bryant Behind Bars

POSTED: 7:04 pm MDT October 4, 2003
UPDATED: 8:48 pm MDT October 4, 2003

The woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape attempted suicide twice this year, but feels emotionally strong as the case against the NBA superstar proceeds, a friend said.

In an interview aired Saturday on CBS's "48 Hours Investigates," Johnray Strickland confirmed the 19-year-old woman attempted suicide twice this year.

"I think we have all moved on from that and that was a dark time," he said. "She can handle this trial. She can handle this."

"She is a completely stable person," he said. "These things had happened to her but she has been through so much and she is continuing to go through so much."

Strickland said the woman asked him to tell part of her story. He is not bound by a judge's gag order that silences people directly involved in the case.

"She just wanted somebody to come out and really stand up for her," he said.

He said, unlike what the tabloids are reporting, his friend is not a sleazy party girl, and there was never any talk about settling her case for any amount of money.

Strickland, 19, met the woman while the two attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley early this year. He has returned to school; she has not. He said they dated for a time and remain close friends.

He said she is terrified of Bryant and would "love" to see him jailed.

"My friend wants to see justice done -- jail, whatever his sentence," Strickland said.

Bryant, 25, is charged with sexual assaulting the woman June 30 in his suite at a mountain resort where she worked. Free on $25,000 bond, the Los Angeles Lakers star is scheduled to appear Thursday in Eagle for a preliminary hearing to determine whether he will stand trial.

Prosecutors indicated they plan to hire a specialist in strangulation injuries and other expert witnesses to testify at trial.

District Attorney Mark Hurlbert has asked for nearly $200,000 above his proposed 2004 budget of $2.1 million to cover expenses in the case, including $143,000 for additional staff and $45,500 for expert witnesses and other trial preparation costs, spokeswoman Krista Flannigan said Friday.

Flannigan would not comment on what kind of testimony the prosecution expected from the experts.

Hurlbert, whose district covers Eagle, Summit, Clear Creek and Lake counties, told officials from the counties Thursday that the Bryant case will require more money.

Eagle County commissioners earlier this year approved an additional $105,000 for Hurlbert's office for expenses in the case that could come up this fiscal year, which ends Dec. 31.

Summit County Commission Chairman Gary Lindstrom said he expected the counties to approve the new request.


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