WE'LL KO KOBE: DA

NY Post ^ | August 6, 2003 | DOUGLAS MONTERO, BARRY BORTNICK and DAN MANGAN

[ellery]

The prosecutor in the Kobe Bryant rape case says he has slam-dunk evidence to prove the NBA superstar's guilt, it was revealed on the eve of the hoopster's first court appearance today. Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert made that strong claim in court papers arguing against making public the police affidavit written to justify Bryant's arrest early last month.

[#3Fan]

The DA and the defense attorneys said that he didn't have to be there and the Judge said he did. If wanted to just hear the case, then he would have closed the courtroom to TV cameras instead of allowing them in to keep the camera on him!

The Da and the defense attourneys aren't running the trial, the judge is and if he regularly requires the accused to show up for these kinds of hearings then he shouldn't change his ways just because the accused is famous.

Your comments are unbelieveable to anyone that knows anything about courtrooms! Close the Courtroom if you are not interested in face time!

He shouldn't concern himself with facetime or no facetime. If he regularly allows cameras in the court room, then he should continue that also, regardless of what the media thinks about it.

[sinkspur]

I thought you said you thought he was guilty. Why do you care-if you think he is guilty?

I don't care. I'm just pokin' the hornet's nest.

[justshe]

"Isn't it amazing the people on here that have made up their mind without seeing the evidence in court and hearing the witnessed UNDER oath -- not just granting TV interviews as sources?"

I may have my 'leanings'......one way or the other...but I agree. HE IS INNOCENT.....until proven guilty. And all this garbage about his 'position'....and his 'attitude'...and his 'clothing'....and something his 'father did'.......is baloney. This 'the great Kobe' so he must be guilty attitude is simply speculation, imo.

I also think there is MUCH tearing down....to build oneself up.... going on.

[#3Fan]

Maybe the judge doesn't think celebrity defendents deserve special treatment?

I'm amazed that these Kobe worshippers want such special treatment for their hero all the time. Don't they care about equal protection under the law?

[sinkspur]

He shouldn't concern himself with facetime or no facetime.

But he is concerned with face time. If he wasn't, he'd have closed the hearing. This hearing was a nothing.

[PhiKapMom]

Simple -- you close a courtroom if you don't want face time! Is that so hard to understand? Don't bother answering!

You believe what you want and I will believe what I want so we can both go our separate ways.

[nyconse]

Just curious-enjoy "poking".

[PhiKapMom]

I just read what you wrote after I said no more discussion basically -- doesn't Kobe deserve the right to be presume innocent or have you thrown that rule out as well because he is an athlete?

[justshe]

I haven't said if I have made up my mind or not.

About what? Kobe's guilt or innocence? So we shouldn't read anything into this statement by you?

I am sure Kobe thinks this whole thing is ridiculous. He's the great Kobe afterall, why should he have to act like any normal person. He's special.

[#3Fan]

But he is concerned with face time. If he wasn't, he'd have closed the hearing.

If he doesn't regularly close these hearings, why close it now? Again, you guys are showing your bias by assuming that the judge just wants facetime. There's no way to know that. If you could get statistics that show how this judge regularly runs his courtroom and can show that he is deviating from his norm, then you may have something, but otherwise you guys are again accusing on no evidence.

This hearing was a nothing.

If I were accused of rape, it wouldn't be a nothing to me. Maybe the judge takes his job seriously unlike some big-city judges.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Could be that the judge is having the hearings on camera so there will be no doubt as to what is being done and said in the courtroom. No rumors if it's all live on camera.

[#3Fan]

Simple -- you close a courtroom if you don't want face time! Is that so hard to understand? Don't bother answering!

Or, you keep it open because you regularly keep it open and let the media howl all they want.

You believe what you want and I will believe what I want so we can both go our separate ways.

I didn't say I believe anything about this move, I just don't assume the worst of intentions without knowing what the normal procedure this judge employs.

[nyconse]

Good point-If I was the judge I would want everything on camera to counter any charges of racism or judical misconduct. This is no ordinary defendent:rich, famous and Black.

[#3Fan]

I just read what you wrote after I said no more discussion basically -- doesn't Kobe deserve the right to be presume innocent or have you thrown that rule out as well because he is an athlete?

The jury must presume him innocent so they can evaluate the evidence. We can have our beliefs out here just like we do with OJ and Clinton.

[#3Fan]

Could be that the judge is having the hearings on camera so there will be no doubt as to what is being done and said in the courtroom. No rumors if it's all live on camera.

That could be and would be a smart thing to do.

[EllaMinnow]

My theory is that the judge wanted cameras and KB there today to help him decide if it would be too much of a circus to televise the prelim.

But I could be wrong.

[swheats]

Just an observation, but don't you think he looks angry?

No that's just the look of an uptight brother who's been accused of rape. Kidding of course.

Maybe he's angry with himself, the media, the accuser you name it.

[nyconse]

Perhaps a Kobe supporter (any will do) could explain to me why evaluating every unproved vicious allegation against the cheerleader is perfectly fair, but commenting on the negative media reports about Kobe is somehow unfair? How is discussing the evidence against Kobe preventing him from receiving a fair trial? Also, why do you think all of us think he is guilty. I certainly haven't said he is guilty and don't remember many (if any) other posters saying he was guilty. Just wondering.....

[nyconse]

Probably all three. If he is innocent, he made a huge mistake in having sex. If he is guilty, well.....I can't even imagine how he must feel.

[#3Fan]

Perhaps a Kobe supporter (any will do) could explain to me why evaluating every unproved vicious allegation against the cheerleader is perfectly fair,...

It's been open season on pretty young things this year here. Look at Jessica Lynch and this girl, one a POW who had spinal injuries serving her country and the other a possible rape victim. It's been unbelievable. I don't know if it's the green-eyed-monster at work with people having unresolved high school issues or what.

...but commenting on the negative media reports about Kobe is somehow unfair? How is discussing the evidence against Kobe preventing him from receiving a fair trial? Also, why do you think all of us think he is guilty. I certainly haven't said he is guilty and don't remember many (if any) other posters saying he was guilty. Just wondering.....

Exactly. I've said all along that the evidence in the trial will decide it. We haven't seen her injuries and we haven't seen any possible witnesses (maybe even a bodyguard?) yet. My lean is that he's guilty, but that could easily change given the trial evidence.