Bryant suffers setback as judge rules on evidence admissibility

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2004

DENVER, United States (AFP) — The Kobe Bryant defense suffered a setback when the trial judge ruled that his taped statement to detectives can be used as evidence in the rape case pending against the basketball star.

Additionally, Chief District Judge Terry Ruckriegle ruled that the seizure of several items of Bryant's clothing - including a white Nike T-shirt lightly stained with traces of his alleged victim's blood - was proper and that that evidence will also be admissible at his upcoming trial.

Bryant did notch a more modest victory of his own, however. Rockriegle ordered that the circumstances under which Bryant was administered a so-called "rape kit" hospital examination were improper, and that forensic evidence collected during that procedure will be...