Text of attorney’s statement responding to defense allegation

Wednesday, March 3, 2004 | 8:01 a.m.

Text of a statement released Tuesday by John Clune, the attorney for the alleged victim in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case, and statements Bryant's attorneys made in a court filing Monday:

Clune statement:

The claims that the victim in this case had any sexual contact with anyone within 15 hours after being assaulted by Mr. Bryant are patently false. Anyone trying to prove otherwise will be chasing ghosts. The victim has confidence that the judge in this case will appropriately resolve these 'rape shield' issues and that the focus of this trial will remain on the conduct of the defendant. No further comment will be made at this time.

Excerpts from the defense filing:

Acts of prior and subsequent sexual activity of the accuser are relevant to show the accuser's knowledge, intent, common plan, pattern and modus operandi with respect to whether she consented to have sexual intercourse with Mr. Bryant.

Evidence that the accuser engaged in sexual intercourse within the two days preceding and within less than 15 hours following her encounter with Mr. Bryant is relevant and admissible ...

Given the timing and the nature of the accused's sexual activity following her encounter with Mr. Bryant, all of this activity is now relevant to test and rebut the prosecution experts' opinions regarding the supposed trauma and (post traumatic stress disorder) allegedly suffered by the accuser.