Judge denies Bryant’s attempt to omit Colorado’s rape shield law

The rape-shield law, created in the mid-1970s, generally prevents defense attorneys from using information regarding the sexual history of alleged assault victims.

Defense attorney Hal Haddon argued that the law violates Bryant’s right to equal protection because under another state law, a defendant’s sexual history is presumed to be relevant and is admissible at trial.

Ruckriegle stated that Bryant’s sexual history will not be mentioned in court, though, thus making Haddon’s argument irrelevant.

The 25-year-old Bryant is accused of sexually assaulting a woman last June 30 at a Colorado resort, a Class 3 felony with penalties ranging from four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation.

Bryant, who was in Colorado for surgery on his right knee at the time of the alleged assault, claimed the two had consensual sex.

The defense has insisted throughout that the woman had sex with someone else less than 15 hours after her alleged assault by Bryant, and that injuries found on the woman’s body could have been caused by sexual partners before her encounter with Bryant.