Celebrity changes dynamic of (Kobe Bryant) case

Orange County Register ^ | July 21, 2003 | MARCIA C. SMITH and HEATHER LOURIE

[Recourse]

His money, fame and power place much of the focus on Bryant, not his accuser, whose life has been invaded.

Her privacy, which was nearly impossible to protect in a town of 3,000 residents and one main public high school, is gone.

[SouthernFreebird]

Just a few days we were all told that Kobe was an outstanding, loving, family man that takes his meals alone in his hotel room. Now we know why.

What does that have to do with what you said to me...and no I don't know why so please explain.

[Recourse]

It was posted and discussed at length yesterday.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/949438/posts

[george wythe]

Her name - first, middle and last - is on the Internet. So is her home address, her e-mail address, her phone number, her family's property records and two color photographs of her with her high school dance team and at the prom.

Very few people knew about the KobeWatch website until Drudge told us to go to geocities.com/

2 + 2 = ?

Drudge has a lot traffic, and therefore, now anyone and his cousin know who this girl is.

[chiefqc]

I don't know if kobe is guilty or not, but the trashing of the the alledged victum has begun already.

He will be defended by the best lawyer that his millions can buy, his basketball status will work in his favor.

What I see as his major problem, and then again maybe not when you factor the money angle, is his marriage.

Will his wife play a Crusy Klinton and forgive him, although it would be for love not money, or will she be so angry and tell him to hit the road.

Only time will tell the story of this sad tale.

[Mr. Bird]

It's clear that no one but the two of them know for certain what happened that night, so I'll withhold judgement until the testimony and evidence come out.

That said, it's a little annoying to read articles that lament the "poor accuser" and her uphill battle against a beloved celebrity. First of all, pro athletes have a big fat bullseye on their crotches, and false accusations are not unheard of. I would guess that they are probably more likely when a famous person is involved (because of the potential windfall to the accuser). It's also annoying to hear people criticize Bryant for getting the best lawyers money can buy. Who wouldn't? Contrary to the articles assertions, the accuser is not saddled with a couple of underpaid public servants. The Eagle County public is the plaintiff in this case, and they have at their disposal all of the funds necessary to prosecute effectively.

This is not a civil case, and it's not David vs. Goliath.

[Hatteras]

I found them. Oh, what to do? what to do?....

[Lijahsbubbe]

Yes celebrity changes everything. This woman never would have gone to his room if he wasn't a celebrity. It wouldn't be in the media if he wasn't a celebrity.

He wouldn't have women throwing themselves at him if he wasn't a celebrity, and most likely would not have a gorgeous wife if he wasn't a celebrity.

So celebrity complicates everything. Why should he rape her when he can get gorgeous women any time?

Did she think this wouldn't be in the media if she pressed charges?

Did she make it up to gain money or notoriety?

Did he force himself on her because he's used to having whatever he wants?

Ultimately it will be his word against hers, unless there are witnesses.

And his money and fame complicates the case.

[george wythe]

People who file a rape charge should not be questioned as to either character or motive

A lot of handwringing before the gloves comes off.

The media are going to lead the character-questioning of the victim; they are sensationalist and cannot pass up the opportunity of juicy stories.

By the same token, Kobe's character will be questioned too; just look at the stories about his relationship with his parents already making the rounds.

[aristeides]

Provided that the crime actually occurred, it seems to me she is a victim whether or not the crime's occurrence is proved beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

[MattinNJ]

Bryant, ...has hired high-priced, high-profile power defense attorneys, Pamela Mackey and Hal Haddon. Mackey and Haddon - of the Denver-based firm Haddon, Morgan, Mueller, Jordan, Mackey & Foreman - represented John and Patricia Ramsey after their 6-year-old daughter, JonBenet, was murdered; and defended Colorado goalie Patrick Roy against domestic abuse charges and Hunter S. Thompson against drug possession charges.

Now here are attorneys that are really worthy of your derision.

[oldcomputerguy]

I think a new reality game show is in order. We can call it "Celebrity Victims" I am sure prospective contestants will be coming out of the woodwork.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

I don't care much about basketball and I loathe rapists. Somehow, though, I find it very difficult to believe that this guy would have done anything to jeopordize his style of life. There are a thousand women who would die to sleep with this guy. Are we to believe that this woman was grabbed, taken into his room, stripped against her will and raped? I'm more inclined to believe that, if anything, she casually said the word "no" just as things were going down.

[onedoug]

Bryant has now floated two distinctly different denials of this: one about a week before he was confronted (in which he hadn't done anything), and another after the charge, in which he's now committed adultery.

Credibility seems rather at odds all around.

[oldcomputerguy]

It seems to me she is a victim whether or not the crime's occurrence is proved

If her motivation is a settlement and a recording contract, maybe not.

[writmeister]

It's clear that no one but the two of them know for certain what happened that night, so I'll withhold judgement until the testimony and evidence come out.

That said, it's a little annoying to read articles that lament the "poor accuser" and her uphill battle against a beloved celebrity. First of all, pro athletes have a big fat bullseye on their crotches, and false accusations are not unheard of. I would guess that they are probably more likely when a famous person is involved (because of the potential windfall to the accuser). It's also annoying to hear people criticize Bryant for getting the best lawyers money can buy. Who wouldn't? Contrary to the articles assertions, the accuser is not saddled with a couple of underpaid public servants. The Eagle County public is the plaintiff in this case, and they have at their disposal all of the funds necessary to prosecute effectively.

I agree with your withholding of judgment. That is my view as well.

But I am annoyed by the well-trod Clintonian "nuts & sluts" defense so quickly paraded.

I do take issue at the idea that the prosecutor has unlimited resource. That is classic defense complaint when the reality is that the prosecutor's resources are limited by the county commissioners (and by extension the taxpayers).

[wardaddy]

Indeed.

[Mr. Bird]

But I am annoyed by the well-trod Clintonian "nuts & sluts" defense so quickly paraded.

Agreed. I was only attempting to voice my opinion, contradicting the notion that false rape accusations are so rare.

I do take issue at the idea that the prosecutor has unlimited resource. That is classic defense complaint when the reality is that the prosecutor's resources are limited by the county commissioners (and by extension the taxpayers).

Please note that I stated that they have the necessary funds to prosecute effectively. There are certainly limits on the public treasury, but not so severe that a local rape cannot be prosecuted.

[Farnham]

"I can't imagine anyone lying about this," said Dawn Foor, supervisor of Orange County's sexual-assault victim assistance services.

The reason rape is such a difficult crime to prossecute (IE: the reason trashing the victim works so well) is that your chances of getting six men who do not have personal knowledge of a woman who threatened a teacher, professor, husband, official, boss, etc. with this charge are basicaly zero.

O.J. juries are hard to come by in real life. If the physical evidence supports the charge, and she is straight arrow enough to be believed, she has a real shot to nail him. If she has "friends" who portray her as unstable, she probably won't.

[MACVSOG68]

Credibility seems rather at odds all around.

Can't argue that. But not sure how that relates to my criticism of the article.

[arthur003]

Another NBA thug who can get all he wants for free that needs to show the insecurity of his manhood of lack of it by being abusive to a woman. The NBA has the largest percentage of wife, girlfriend abuse and largest number of sired illegitimate children of any socio economic group and certainly in professional sports. Why? Is the easy score the least satisfying?

I for one am glad to see Mr. “You guys know I would never do something like that “

Charged!