Judge in Kobe case refuses to delay trial

Basketball ace Kobe Bryant will have to stand trial for his rape case this month as originally planned, after a judge rejected the prosecution's request to delay it.

While the judge said the district attorney failed to present a valid reason to delay the trial, he granted the prosecution a victory by also ruling that the defence will not be allowed to present at trial evidence about the woman's purported suicide attempts, information about medication she has taken or about other drug and alcohol use.

Last week, District Attorney Mark Hurlbert asked District Judge Terry Ruckriegle for a delay, saying a recent release of a transcript from a closed-door hearing could taint the jury - the judge rejected that theory.

The defence had asked the judge not to delay the trial, but was also eager to get information to a jury about the woman's mental health.

Bryant, who has pleaded not guilty to raping the woman on 30 June, 2003, in his Colorado hotel room, is due back in court today for a pre-trial hearing.