Published January 14, 2015
The 19-year-old woman accusing Kobe Bryant (search) of rape asked the judge Thursday to set a trial date so she can begin to put the case behind her, and her mother added her own heartfelt plea.
The young woman's attorney John Clune said in a court filing that she has been "forced to quit school, she cannot live at home, she cannot talk to her friends and she has received literally hundreds of phone calls and e-mails threatening either death or mutilation."
"None of these consequences will end until after this case goes to trial," Clune said. He said prosecutors have no objection to setting a trial date.
Prosecution spokeswoman Krista Flannigan and Bryant's attorneys were in a closed-door hearing Thursday and not immediately available for comment.
Bryant has acknowledged having sex with the woman at the Vail-area resort where she worked, but said it was consensual. If convicted of felony sexual assault, the 25-year-old Los Angeles Lakers (search) guard would face four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation.
No trial date has been set and pretrial hearings are scheduled well into May.
In a letter dated Wednesday that was included with the filing, the woman's mother told the judge that her daughter has lived in four states in the past six months and that she and her husband are constantly worried about her safety.
She had sharp criticism of the media for forcing her daughter to literally live on the run.
"She can't live at home, she can't live with relatives, she can't go to school or talk to her friends," she wrote. "Even the defendant is able to continue living in his home and continue with his employment.
"My daughter has plans for her future. She wants to continue her education. However, her life is on hold and her safety is in jeopardy until this case is over. I am asking that the court do whatever possible to bring this case to trial as soon as possible."
Clune said his client respects the judge's obligation to be fair but said the strain is increasing.
"Her daily concern is 'When will the media or defense investigators find me and where will I go then?"' Clune wrote.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/kobes-accuser-urges-judge-to-set-trial-date