Rape case ruling 'favours Bryant'

Bryant's lawyers have been pressing for this decision

The judge in the trial of US basketball star Kobe Bryant has ruled that details of his alleged victim's sex life can be brought up in court.

Legal experts said it was a huge victory for Mr Bryant, and could even persuade the accuser to drop her case.

Mr Bryant, 25, is accused of raping a 19-year-old worker at a Colorado hotel where he was staying last year.

The Los Angeles Lakers star has admitted having sex with the woman but says it was consensual.

His trial is due to begin in the small Colorado town of Eagle on 27 August.

Multiple partners claim

On Friday the trial judge, Terry Ruckriegle, ruled that the woman's sexual activities in the three days before she made her allegation and was examined in hospital, are relevant to the case.

But he banned "any and all other evidence" about her conduct outside that 72 hour period.

The defence has claimed the woman had sex with a number of different people in the days around her encounter with Mr Bryant on 30 June 2003, including sex with someone between the alleged attack and her reporting it to the authorities.

The woman's legal team has strongly denied that.

The defence team has argued that the facts are crucial to the case. The judge's decision was seen as a significant victory for the defendant.

"This evidence is as damaging a set of facts as a prosecutor could ever have to contend with, and one wonders if at long last the accuser will pull the plug on this case," said Larry Pozner, former president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Prosecution lawyers had no comment on the decision.

If convicted of sexually assaulting the woman, Mr Bryant could face life in prison as well as fines of up to $750,000 (£400,000).

Mr Bryant, who is married and a father, has reportedly just signed a new seven-year contract with the Lakers worth $136m (£74m).