Justice unserved.

Byline: The Register-Guard

It's hard to draw many conclusions about the Kobe Bryant case that abruptly ended last Wednesday, days before the NBA superstar's trial for sexual assault was about to begin. But two clear truths emerge from all the fog and uncertainty: Justice wasn't served for either Bryant or his accuser, and neither emerges from this dismal saga with their lives and futures unscathed.

The rape case against Bryant was dismissed Wednesday in Eagle, Colo., after prosecutors and attorneys representing Bryant's 20-year-old accuser said she no longer wanted to proceed and was incapable of doing so. The decision followed a yearlong drama of legal wrangling in a case that, with its blend of celebrity, sex and race, proved irresistible tabloid fare.

It's not hard to understand why Bryant's accuser no longer wanted to continue. She reportedly had received death threats and been forced to move repeatedly for her safety.

She had been featured in photo spreads in national tabloids. Not surprisingly, her attorneys described her as psychologically and physically depleted, unable to face what would certainly be the most difficult challenge of all - a trial in which she would have to take the stand and have the most intimate details of her personal life revealed before the entire world.

From a legal standpoint, it had become clear that the prosecution's case was weakening by the day. The latest and most severe blow was the accuser's own decision to sue Bryant in civil court, a move that, rightly or wrongly, would allow the defense to argue that the accuser's primary motivation was greed, not justice.

While Bryant will no longer have to face a criminal trial, his life also has been damaged. In dropping the case, District Attorney Mark Hurlbert used the word "victim" repeatedly, leaving the clear impression that Bryant is, in fact, a rapist, even though he has not been convicted.

In addition to his personal life - he has publicly apologized to his wife for what he termed an extramarital affair - Bryant also has paid dearly in terms of lost mega-endorsement deals.

The rape case also took a toll on Bryant's basketball career. Even though he managed to commute to several games after spending the day in court, his team floundered in the finals, and Bryant finished with the lowest scoring average in years.

Meanwhile, the justice system emerged with the most battered reputation of all - and deservedly so.

On at least four separate occasions, the Colorado judicial department released the victim's name to the media. Other major mistakes included sending by e-mail transcripts of closed hearings to news organizations.

While it would be comforting to report that the Bryant case will now do a fast media fade, that's unlikely to happen. The civil suit is still pending, although it seems probable, particularly given the tone and wording of Bryant's apology to his accuser, that a settlement will be reached.

While clearly the handiwork of highly paid attorneys, Bryant's apology nonetheless conveyed a tone of hopefully genuine remorse and understanding of the trauma that has resulted from this case.

"I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night," he said, "and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure."

Regardless of what happens in the days ahead, one can only hope those words bring some healing and closure to all involved in this wrenching, troubling case.

Meanwhile, the truth of what happened on the evening of June 30 at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera will forever remain known to only two people - two people whose lives will never again be the same.