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.
"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.
Previous Stories:
- October 4, 2003: Kobe Bryant 'Terrified' About Sexual Assault Case
- October 3, 2003: Prosecution In Bryant Case To Call For Strangulation Expert
- October 2, 2003: Kobe's Accuser Won't Testify At Prelim
- September 30, 2003: Vail Ordered To Give 911 Tapes To Kobe's Defense Team
- September 29, 2003: Judge In Bryant Case To Make Critical Decisions This Week
- September 29, 2003: Lakers Coach In Eagle, Same Night As Kobe
- September 25, 2003: Kobe's Accuser Wants Crisis Records Kept Private
- September 23, 2003: Eagle DA Asks Judge To Keep Kobe Bryant Hearing Open
- September 22, 2003: Man Charged With Solicitation To Murder Bryant's Accuser
- September 22, 2003: Judge In Bryant Case Weighing Key Decisions As Preliminary Hearing Nears
- September 19, 2003: Bizarre Twist in Kobe Bryant Case, $3-Millon Murder for Hire Plot
- September 19, 2003: Sheriff Cleared In Bryant Leaks Investigation
- September 19, 2003: Ruling Could Hamper Bryant's Defense Efforts
- September 16, 2003: Legal Web Site Publishes Bryant Accuser's Name, Address
- September 15, 2003: Kobe Bryant's Lawyers Press For Accuser's Medical Records
- September 12, 2003: Kobe Bryant Attorneys Want Closed Hearing
- September 10, 2003: New Details In Kobe Bryant Case Released
- September 9, 2003: Attorneys Want Kobe's Accuser To Testify At Prelim
- September 8, 2003: Judge In Bryant Case Won't Permit Courtroom Cameras
- September 5, 2003: Kobe's Lawyers Seeking More Of Accuser's Medical Records
- September 3, 2003: Handful Of Records In Kobe Bryant Case Released
- September 2, 2003: Bryant's Attorneys Ask For Accuser's Medical Records
- September 2, 2003: Probe Of Bryant Leaks Looks Into Court Workers, Prosecutors
- August 30, 2003: Race Coloring People's View Of Bryant's Case
- August 29, 2003: Judge's Ruling On Sealed Records In Bryant Case To Be Appealed
- August 28, 2003: Prosecutors Won't Oppose Records Release In Bryant Rape Case
- August 26, 2003: Bryant's Accuser Not Returning To UNC; Prosecutor Opposes Courtroom Cameras
- August 23, 2003: Bryant Attorney Denies Settlement Rumors
- August 22, 2003: Deal May Be In Works In Kobe Case
- August 22, 2003: Death Threat Against Bryant's Accuser Results In Arrest
- August 20, 2003: Kobe Bryant Court Records Could Be Opened Soon
- August 19, 2003: Public Sounds Off On Kobe Bryant Case
- August 19, 2003: Eagle County Residents Polled About Kobe Case
- August 15, 2003: Judge With Little Experience Could Get Bryant Case
- August 12, 2003: Racist Fliers Found On Eagle County Doors
- August 6, 2003: Bryant Hearing Set For Oct. 9
- August 5, 2003: Cuban Chastised By NBA Commissioner For Kobe Comments
- August 5, 2003: Eagle Prepares For Kobe Bryant Media Onslaught
- August 5, 2003: Since Charges, Bryant On Losing Streak
- August 4, 2003: Kobe Accuser's Alleged Problems May Not Be Considered
- August 4, 2003: Judge Nixes Bryant's Request To Bar Cameras
- August 3, 2003: Kobe Bryant Gets Teen Award
- August 1, 2003: Report: Investigator In Bryant Case Named In Racial Profiling Lawsuit
- July 31, 2003: Judge Rejects Kobe Request Not To Attend Hearing
- July 30, 2003: Report: Bryant Deceived Investigators About Alleged Rape
- July 30, 2003: Woman Pictured As Kobe's Accuser Speaks Out
- July 29, 2003: Court Web Site To Devote Page To Kobe's Case
- July 28, 2003: Will 911 Call From Kobe's Accuser Be Released?
- July 27, 2003: Bryant Prosecutor Getting Threats
- July 26, 2003: Cameras Allowed In Courtroom For Kobe Bryant Hearing
- July 25, 2003: Tabloid Publishes Purported Photo Of Bryant Accuser
- July 25, 2003: Scrutiny Of Kobe Bryant's Accuser Intensifies
- July 25, 2003: Bryant's Accuser Previously Called 'Danger To Self'
- July 24, 2003: Family Of Woman Pictured In Kobe Bryant Case Hires Lawyer
- July 24, 2003: Kobe's Defense Team Familiar With High Profile Cases
- July 24, 2003: Radio Host Reveals Name Of Bryant Accuser
- July 23, 2003: Friend Says Kobe's Accuser 'Felt Chemistry' With NBA Star
- July 22, 2003: Eagle Teen Offered $12,500 For Kobe Bryant Story
- July 21, 2003: Report: Kobe's Accuser Had Recent Overdose
- July 18, 2003: Kobe Bryant Maintains Innocence After Charges
- July 18, 2003: DA To Announce Kobe Bryant Decision This Afternoon
- July 17, 2003: Decision In Kobe Bryant Case To Be Announced Friday
- July 15, 2003: State Crime Lab Working On Kobe Bryant Case
- July 14, 2003: Bryant Tells Paper He's Innocent
- July 14, 2003: Friends Of Kobe Bryant Accuser Go On National TV
- July 12, 2003: Kobe Bryant's Accuser Had Tried Out For 'American Idol'
- July 10, 2003: Prosecutors: Decision In Bryant Case Won't Come This Week
- July 9, 2003: Sheriff Concerned About Pressure On Kobe Bryant's Accuser
- July 9, 2003: Taxi Driver Says NBA Star Was At Hospital After Assault Claim
- July 7, 2003: D.A.: No Decision On Charges Against NBA's Bryant
- July 7, 2003: Kobe Bryant Arrested For Alleged Sexual Assault
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