The 88-year-old doctor accused of sexually assaulting Indiana University basketball players in the 1990s will be deposed Wednesday after a judge ruled he was competent to be questioned about the allegations.
Dr. Bradford Bomba Sr. “was able to accurately identify the difference between the truth and a lie,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Mario Garcia wrote in a ruling Tuesday after Bomba was questioned at the federal courthouse in Indianapolis.
Bomba’s guardian, Joseph Bomba, had asked for the deposition to be delayed, arguing that Bomba, the former Indiana University team doctor, “does not know the difference between a truth and a lie, making him incompetent to testify,” according to court papers dated Friday.
The judge disagreed.
“In making this determination, the Court considers Dr. Bomba’s recollection of his education and understanding of basic concepts, his comfort and confidence during the hearing, noting that he did not exhibit any anxiety or distress,” Garcia wrote. “The Court also considers Dr. Bomba’s awareness of the general nature of the proceedings and the identification and role of his attorneys in these proceedings and that he would follow their advice.”
Two months ago, Haris Mujezinovic and Charlie Miller, who played for the Hoosiers in the 1990s under legendary coach Bob Knight, sued in U.S. District Court for Southern Indiana. They alleged that their coaches and trainers were aware that Bomba was subjecting basketball players to unnecessary prostate examinations and did nothing to stop him.
