Sex assault case frenzy

Although there were tents and anticipation reached fever pitch, it was not your everyday circus.

Rather, it was a media circus that came to town to cover the first court hearing of a 24-year-old basketball superstar accused of sexual assault.

A cluster of satellite trucks and TV tents mushroomed across the street from the county courthouse in Eagle - a sleepy mountain town in Colorado with a population 3,500.

It was in Eagle that Kobe Bryant, America's equivalent to David Beckham, was arrested.

A fresh-faced, seemingly happily married athlete, the NBA star's admission of adultery sent the American media into a frenzy.

His wife, Vanessa, had sat by his side at a news conference where he said sex with his accuser, a 19-year-old hotel worker, was consensual.

Yesterday, he was greeted by hundreds of screaming fans as he arrived at court.

The ten-minute hearing was broadcast live across America - where the case has generated as much hype as the OJ Simpson trial.

Judge Frederick Gannett issued a gagging order to those involved in the case and sealed police and investigator records. But that has done little to pacify a hungry media who have descended on the town.

Motels filled with journalists have 'no vacancy' signs and restaurants are enjoying a boom in business.

But residents seem to be tiring of the unwanted attention already.

The Eagle Pharmacy pleaded for peace, with a sign on its door: 'Support the families with a no comment.'

Eagle police officer Paul Ramsay, reviewing security, said: 'If there's not a change of venue this is just the beginning of the headache.'

Bryant has much to lose - not just his £30million sponsorship deal with sports giants Nike. If convicted, he faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation.