Kobe Bryant Case Update

After calling in sick on his first day of hearings, Kobe Bryant showed up at the Eagle County Courthouse with a smile on his face.

Bryant, the 25-year-old L.A. Lakers superstar, was in court on Tuesday for a hearing that was expected to determine whether a secretly recorded interview, a blood-stained shirt and testimony from undercover detectives would be submitted as evidence for the trial against Bryant. Bryant is facing charges of sexual assault, which, if found guilty, could lead to four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation.

Lead investigator, Doug Winters was questioned by Bryant's attorneys on the legality of the evidence Winters was submitting. Winters stated that it was Bryant who approached the detectives, inviting them to his room where a 75-minute interview took place. It was at that time that Bryant handed over a blood-stained shirt to the detectives and agreed to go to the hospital for a sexual assault examination. Upon leaving the hospital, Winters said Bryant shook his hand and asked him, "to do the best investigation that you can."

Hal Hadden, a defense lawyer for Bryant, is opposing the submission of evidence found from the sexual assault examination because of a Colorado court law, which states that hair, fibers and other "non-testimonial evidence" are to be obtained during daylight hours. Bryant's hospital exam was performed before dawn on July 2nd. Winters said he did not know about the daylight law.

Hadden is also contending that Bryant had, in fact, been in custody and, therefore, should have been read his rights. Hadden also wants the t-shirt with blood stains on it to be thrown out, arguing that investigators did not have a warrant to take it. Although Winters claimed to have signed an investigation document, signifying Bryant had been officially detained, he claims Bryant was cooperative and always understood that he was not in custody.< BR>
Defense attorneys and prosecutors fiercely presented their arguments to the judge, in what escalated into one of the most intense pretrial hearings for the Bryant case.

Legal experts say they do not think the judge will throw out the statement given by Bryant during that initial interview because there is not a clear or intentional constitutional violation.

The two-day hearing ended without a ruling and arguments are to resume on March 1st.