User:Seth Ilys/Censored

(name removed) is the complaining witness in People of the State of Colorado v. Kobe Bean Bryant; she levelled an accusation of rape at the popular basketball player. The case created additional controversy when some news media outlets chose to break with convention by publicly releasing her name.

(name removed), an employee of a Edwards, Colorado hotel, alleged that Bryant has sexually assulted her in his hotel room. Bryant was soon arrested and released on bail; he admitted having sex with (name removed), but maintained that the intercourse was consensual.

Bryant's lawyers agressively pursued the case, going as far as to attempt to obtain (name removed)'s medical records, to admit evidence on (name removed)'s sexual history, and to force her to testify at trial when the prosecution claimed that previously recorded statements and other evidence were sufficient. The prosecution countered with accusations that the defence had made a "conscious misrepresentation of the evidence in order to smear the victim publicly." Bryant attorney Pamela Mackey stated (name removed)'s name in open court six times, after being order by judge Frederick Gannett not to do so.

(name removed) was also the recipient of several death threats from Bryant supporters. Patrick Graber, a Swiss bodybuilder, solicited Bryant offering to committ murder for hire; he was apprehended on 18 September 2003. On 20 August 2003, Iowa resident John William Roche was indicted for leaving an intimidating message on (name removed)'s answering machine.

Although traditionally, mainstream news media outlets have refused to divulge the names of alleged rape victims, because of the high profile of the Bryant case, (name removed)'s name quickly became known and widely circulated on the internet. Address details and photographs, a number of which were inaccurate or belonged to women other than (name removed), were also widely distributed online. Although most news outlets refused to divulge (name removed)'s identity, the tabloid newspaper The Globe printed her name and picture on its front cover. On 16 September 2003, the office of the Colorado's Office of the State Court Administrator accidentally posted a document on their website which divulged (name removed)'s full name and address; the document was retracted within the hour and placed online again in a heavily edited form. .

The release of (name removed)'s name, which rape advoacy groups have claimed is an intimidation tactic on the part of the Bryant defense, has generated siginificant controversy within the news media. However, skeptics have suggested that (name removed)'s accusations were designed simply as a publicity stunt or an attempt to earn a substantial financial settlement, and complained that the traditional (abelit informal) protection afforded rape victims is unfair because it denies the defendent the right to publicly confront his accuser.