Tabloid puts Kobe's accuser on the cover

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 7.25.03

[mhking]

Boca Raton, Fla. -- The Globe supermarket tabloid has published a picture of a woman it claims is the accuser in the sexual assault case against basketball star Kobe Bryant.

The cover photograph has a black strip over the woman's eyes in editions that hit newsstands Friday afternoon.

The woman's name has been on the radio in at least 60 cities and posted on various Internet sites, complete with address, phone number and, in several cases, photographs of the wrong women.

Globe Editor Candace Trunzo defended the use of the photo and the two-page profile of the woman.

"The accusations of sexual assault against Kobe Bryant is a newsworthy matter of tremendous public interest," Trunzo said in a statement. "The Globe is a national news tabloid."

The tabloid did not give the woman's name.

Virtually all American newspapers and news organizations, including The Associated Press, have policies against releasing the identities of sexual assault victims and have not named Bryant's accuser.

The Los Angeles Lakers star was charged with felony sexual assault after the 19-year-old woman told authorities he attacked her at an Edwards, Colo., resort June 30. Bryant said the sex was consensual.

Also Friday, news cameras will be allowed inside the courtroom at Bryant's hearing Aug. 6, a judge ruled.

A live audio feed will also be permitted, Eagle County District Judge Fred Gannett said. He placed no restrictions on what the cameras could record.

Gannett's order allows one pool TV camera and one pool still photographer in the courtroom.

[onyx]

One needn't be versed in Colorado criminal law to hear the media report time and time again, (ad nauseum) that IF convicted as charged (one count of felony sexual assualt) KB, like everyone else convicted of same, will be sentenced to a MINIMUM of years behind bars.

The DA stated the same during his press confernce announcing the charge against KB.

[sinkspur]

Mike Tyson is a thorough reprobate, but he was wrongly convicted of rape, based on the fact that he was a "bad guy."

[onyx]

Or they can make him play for the Nuggets, a fate worse than death.

LOL! Is it? I don't follow basketball!

[#3Fan]

He's not charged with "predatory" rape.

I doubt if a charge by that exact name even exists. I consider predatory rape as a rape where the rapist rapes off the street or if in this case if a rapist got the alleged victim to his room on false pretenses and then raped her. If he did this and does an minimum of 4 years in a prison-like prison (not a country club prison), no matter what the official charge is called, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

If convicted, he will serve a minimum of 4 years behind bars, unless the Colorado legislature changes existing punishment statutes to accomodate Mr. Bryant!

If convicted, do you believe that he will serve a minimum of 4 years? Or do you think he'll be let out on good behaviour or whatever?

[aristeides]

If felony sexual assault has any lesser included offenses under Colorado criminal law, the jury can convict of only the lesser included offense, even if the prosecution only charges felony sexual assault. The jury will be informed if there are any lesser included offenses.

[sinkspur]

What other lesser offenses could there be?

[onyx]

Felony sexual assualt is a violent crime. Men convicted of violent crimes are NOT housed in "country-club" prisons.

Besides the country-club prisons are for the most part "club-Fed's" --- FEDERAL prisons for white collar, non-violent criminals.

[aristeides]

What other lesser offenses could there be?

Criminal assault is the one that occurs to me.

[#3Fan]

Felony sexual assualt is a violent crime. Men convicted of violent crimes are NOT housed in "country-club" prisons.

Good.

Besides the country-club prisons are for the most part "club-Fed's" --- FEDERAL prisons for white collar, non-violent criminals.

Good.

[onyx]

HELLO! He is charged with one count of FELONY SEXUAL ASSAULT, nothing less and nothing more!

The jury CANNOT find him guilty of a lesser charge, because he's NOT been charged with a lesser offense!

[aristeides]

I suggest you do a google search on "lesser included offense."

[#3Fan]

Are you a lawyer? (Don't be defensive, just asking...curious)

[JonH]

I didn't see the "groupie" article here. It was at Yahoo. I went back to look and it is no longer available there.

For the sake of argument, lets assume that the article is false. He is not "Mr. Clean". the alleged victim has other problems and they are still both stupid for putting themselves in a position that led to problems.

I don't see much evidence of the accused party spreading anything in the media. The media appears to have interviewed every one at Northern Colorado University and all the population of her home town. They appear to be doing their own investigation.

[Light Speed]

Kobe will probably get sentenced..and serve 6 months.
More Condom commercial protocalls comming down from on high
Oh ya....endless discussing and reasoning with the children.

"No son....Compton is a place in California."

Enjoy your Dinner : )

[onyx]

If convicted, do you believe that he will serve a minimum of 4 years?

He will be sentenced to a minimum of 4 years, 16 maximum.

Or do you think he'll be let out on good behaviour or whatever?

I don't know anything about Colorado's formula for calculating 'time-off for good behavior.'

[John Lenin]

I think it's total BS that a woman can accuse a man of rape and be sheilded from questioning of her motives and her identity. This isn't Saudi Arabia, no one will stone you to death if admit that you were raped. And any woman who would be too scared of media scrutiny to report a rape probaby shouldn't file rape charges in the first place.

[aristeides]

Assuming the article is false (as it appears to be,) don't you wonder why somebody felt the need to invent it?

[#3Fan]

They'll make him play some charity games...the horror. :^)

[onyx]

No, thank God, I am not a lawyer, but I'm sitting here shouting questions at my son who is a prosecutor, albeit, not in Colorado.

[#3Fan]

He will be sentenced to a minimum of 4 years, 16 maximum.

That's not what I asked and not what I've been saying. I said that I don't think he'll serve 4 years. Do you?

I don't know anything about Colorado's formula for calculating 'time-off for good behavior.'

Then why are you giving us all legal classes?