Her civil suit against the Los Angeles Lakers superstar will proceed as planned, however.
"This case is dismissed," District Judge Terry Ruckriegle said in an Eagle, Colorado, courtroom, bringing a stunning and abrupt halt to one of the most closely watched criminal cases in the country.
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"Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way that I did," the statement said.
The woman's attorney, John Clune, revealed that police were investigating a rape crisis counselor who may have been trying to sell information about the woman.
"I had a discussion with the FBI. The counselor was under investigation for conspiracy to sell her counseling file," Clune said.
Legal experts speaking about the case say that the dismissal of the criminal proceedings, just as a trial jury was being selected, paves the way for an eventual large monetary settlement from Bryant to his accuser to close the civil case.
As Bryant concluded in his statement: "I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado."
