You knew that was going to happen
Race Issue Surfaces in Kobe Bryant Rape Case
Mon Jun 21, 2004 08:21 PM ET
By Judith Crosson
EAGLE, Colo. (Reuters) - Lawyers for Kobe Bryant want to ask prospective jurors in his rape trial their views on interracial dating, injecting race into the already highly charged case, prosecutors said on Monday.
The issue surfaced as lawyers for both sides hammered out questions for jury selection in the Eagle, Colorado case against the NBA star.
Bryant, who is black, is accused of raping a 19-year-old white woman last summer at a resort near Vail, Colorado where she worked and he was staying.
"This was not a relationship. This was not a date," Deputy District Attorney Dana Easter told Judge Terry Ruckriegle as she argued against allowing the defense to ask potential jurors about their views on interracial dating.
