NBA star Bryant to stand trial

Kobe Bryant's wife says she believes in his innocence

A judge has ruled that US basketball star Kobe Bryant must stand trial on a charge of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman.

Judge Frederick Gannett said that prosecutors had offered enough evidence that the LA Lakers player might have committed the crime in Colorado in June.

Bryant has denied that he assaulted the woman, but if found guilty on what is essentially a charge of rape, he could face a life prison sentence.

Even if he is cleared, he could lose millions of dollars in lost sponsorship deals.

The judge's ruling came after a preliminary court hearing in Eagle, Colorado.

Bryant is now scheduled to appear in a district court on 10 November, with a full trial likely within six months after that.

'Probable cause'

"The court finds that the evidence, taken in a light most favorable to the prosecution, is sufficient to 'induce a reasonable belief' that the defendant committed sexual assault as charged," said Judge Frederick Gannett in his ruling.

Judge Gannett: "Evidence is sufficient"

However, legal experts pointed that the threshold of proof required to establish "probable cause" and allow a case to proceed was low, and that the judge is obliged to favour the prosecution case.

The judge went on to say that "despite the court's consistent comments and admonitions" the prosecution witnesses presented "what can only be described as a minimal amount of evidence".

Part of the hearing had been conducted in the judge's chambers, and was not reported by the media.

Bryant remains free on $25,000 bail while the case is pending.

Court drama

The alleged assault took place at a resort in Vail, Colorado, where the woman worked as a concierge.

According to police evidence presented at the hearing, she said she had gone to Bryant's hotel room, where the two began kissing.

Bryant then allegedly seized by the throat and raped her.

Bryant's legal team told the hearing that tests on the underwear of the woman had shown she had been with someone other than the Los Angeles Lakers' star.

His lawyers also said that injuries the woman had suffered might have been caused by previous sexual partners.

One of basketball's wealthiest stars, Bryant is married and has a young daughter; so far his wife has stood by him.

The trial is likely to be the biggest court drama involving a US sports star since footballer OJ Simpson was cleared of murdering his former wife and her friend in 1994.