Smith Rape Case Accuser Gives Up Her Anonymity : Media: The woman’s name is released. She is set to appear on ABC-TV’s ‘PrimeTime Live’ tonight.

The woman who accused William Kennedy Smith of rape, and whose identity was withheld by most news organizations, has shed her anonymity with her decision to appear on ABC-TV’s “PrimeTime Live,” her lawyer said Wednesday.

The woman, Patricia Bowman, will explain her decision in the interview with Diane Sawyer. It was recorded Tuesday and is scheduled for broadcast at 10 p.m. PST tonight.

Bowman, 30, accused Smith of raping her on March 30 at his family’s Palm Beach estate. A jury last week acquitted the 31-year-old nephew of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) after a trial that included nearly 10 hours of emotional testimony by Bowman.

Most news organizations, including the Los Angeles Times, had not identified her because of policies against publishing the name or photograph of accusers in rape cases. Television networks carrying the trial used electronic masking to cover her face when she testified and bleeped out her name.

“I think it’s important that she has that choice,” said Sandy Duncan, coordinator of Palm Beach County victims’ services, which provided rape counseling for Bowman. “Now that the trial’s over, I think she wants to get out and reaffirm her story, and if that’s what she’s chosen to do, I hope she’s prepared to cope with the opinions the public might have.”

Smith’s attorneys questioned her decision to appear on national television.

“She went to so much effort to protect her privacy,” attorney Mark Schnapp said. “I don’t understand her motive.”

Bowman’s lawyer, David Roth, emphasized that she received no compensation for appearing on ABC. He said she chose to be interviewed by Sawyer after meeting her and because of Sawyer’s reputation for integrity.

Bowman was offered up to $500,000 by some news organizations before the trial, Roth has said.

Her decision prompted many news organizations, including the Associated Press, to reconsider withholding her identity.

“Her attorney said it was her decision to come forward in the ABC interview and she now expects to be identified and that her photo will be published,” said Martin C. Thompson, AP managing editor.

“AP’s policy of not identifying accusers in rape cases unless they choose to come forward remains unchanged,” he added.

CNN and CBS also said they had now decided to use her name.

NBC routinely had identified Bowman. “We believe our decision to name her was journalistically fair and responsible throughout,” spokeswoman Peggy Hubble said.