Prosecutors say Kobe lied to authorities

Phildaelphia Inquirer ^ | July 31, 2003 | GEORGE MERRITT & CHRIS FRATES

[Recourse]

Posted on Thu, Jul. 31, 2003

Prosecutors say Kobe lied to authorities

Report: D.A.'s case will focus on injuries, 'inconsistencies' in statements

By GEORGE MERRITT & CHRIS FRATES Denver Post

EAGLE, Colo. - Prosecutors will argue that basketball star Kobe Bryant and his 19-year-old accuser had some consensual sexual contact, but the intercourse was not consensual, unnamed sources have told ABC News.

Sources also told ABC the prosecution will argue Bryant "deceived law-enforcement officials and that he gave inconsistent statements."

District Attorney Mark Hurlbert deferred questions to a spokeswoman, who would not comment on the report.

Hurlbert, however, has said there was "alleged sexual penetration or intrusion" and that Bryant caused "submission of the victim through actual physical force."

Hurlbert charged Bryant July 18 with one count of felony sexual assault after the woman, an employee at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, accused the Los Angeles Lakers star of sexual assault stemming from a June 30 incident at the resort.

After he was charged, Bryant admitted to having sex with the woman, but he maintained the sex was consensual.

Still, Denver trial lawyer Craig Silverman said it may not matter if Bryant lied to investigators.

"I don't think it means a lot," Silverman said. "In the post-Bill Clinton era it's not surprising that a married man would lie about a martial infidelity."

Bryant was in Colorado for a scheduled knee surgery when the incident occurred. He was contacted by the Eagle County Sheriff's office on July 1 and submitted DNA samples at a local hospital. He was arrested July 4.

If convicted, Bryant faces four years to life in prison. He is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, though it is unclear whether he will be there in person or whether a representative will appear on his behalf.

The judge in the case, Frederick Gannett, warned news organizations yesterday not to publish or broadcast the name or photograph of any witness, juror, potential juror or the alleged victim and her family on the courthouse grounds. Any organization violating the order could be denied a seat in the courtroom.

Gannett will hear arguments today on whether the records should be made public.

Attorneys for media organizations - including the Los Angeles Times, Denver Post and NBC - have argued that many details have been publicized already.

Hurlbert and defense lawyers want to keep the records sealed, arguing that publicity could affect Bryant's right to a fair trial. Defense attorneys Pamela Mackey and Hal Haddon also have asked Gannett to reconsider an earlier order allowing cameras in the courtroom during next week's hearing.

[Mr. Bird]

"In the post-Bill Clinton era it's not surprising that a married man would lie about a martial infidelity."

I thought that was pre-Bill Clinton. Sometimes it's so difficult keeping his legacy straight. And what's "martial" infidelity? Fighting for the enemy?

[Lijahsbubbe]

star Kobe Bryant and his 19-year-old accuser had some consensual sexual contact, but the intercourse was not consensual

Oh boy, I am very conflicted on this. If this woman had oral sex with Bryant, and resisted intercourse, should that be equated with a rape where there was no sexual contact prior to the rape? Maybe they need to come up with a new name for this kind of (disclaimer:alleged) rape.

[NativeNewYorker]

"martial" infidelity

Sounds like one of the charges in the indictment.

[NativeNewYorker]

If this woman had oral sex with Bryant, and resisted intercourse...

If she spit, you must acquit.

[dwd1]

Well, I wonder about the gag order that was issued by a judge last Friday and how this got out...

[aristeides]

If this woman had oral sex with Bryant, and resisted intercourse, should that be equated with a rape where there was no sexual contact prior to the rape?

Of course it should. The law is clear.

[dwd1]

Looks like the accused may have a problem here. If he had been uncooperative, that has negative connotations and if he answers questions and waivers in any way, that has negative connotations...Sounds like they are trying to put him West of the Rock and East of the hard place...

[Lijahsbubbe]

Too gross for me.

Anyway, don't you think this should be more along the line of plain assault, if the parties were already engaged in sexual activity, and force was used to change the sexual activity?

[aristeides]

"I don't think it means a lot," Silverman said. "In the post-Bill Clinton era it's not surprising that a married man would lie about a martial infidelity."

If I knew I was being accused of rape, and knew I was guilty of no more than adultery, you better believe I would tell the police the truth. Like the $4 million ring, Bryant's lies are evidence that he knew he was guilty of more than mere adultery.

[Bluntpoint]

I heard Kobe wanted to "Blacktop" her.

When she declined, he suggested "asphalt."

[Bikers4Bush]

Well that settles it then, since he bought a $4 million dollar ring for his wife he must be guilty of rape.

[Bluntpoint]

Like the $4 million ring

Everytime she looks at the ring, what will it remind her of?

[aristeides]

The lies and the ring argue in the same direction. I suspect the physical evidence and witness statements will do the same. It all adds up.

[ExtraSafe21]

I can not yet put my finger on it, but there is something wrong about this case.

First we are told about by the alleged victim's friends that "as soon as she came into the room Kobe snapped and attacked her" "his personality totally changed" Do you guys remember those statements.

And now we are being told by sources close to the prosecution that inside the room there was some consensual intimate touching. Umm! Something is wrong here.

[dwd1]

The woman has the right to say no at any time but I still say the injuries she sustained will be what turns the case...Vaginal trauma could simply mean that she was dealing with an extra large helping of...excitement....However, throat injuries, facial contusions, extreme trauma to the wrist or arms...How much force is required for a professional athlete to subdue a cheerleader....

[aristeides]

The statement I remember is that Bryant snapped and changed after the victim told him she had to leave the room and clock out, not right after she entered the room. A statement of the victim along those lines could well have occurred just as she was refusing to consent to some sexual act. I see no inconsistency.

[Bikers4Bush]

The "lies" and the ring argue nothing.

I love how you folks have him convicted even in spite of the fact that the story has gone from "he attacked and raped her after luring her to his room" to "she went to his room they started screwing around and THEN he raped her".

Priceless.

[samuel_adams_us]

The accuser had already clocked out, she was on her own time, she was not on official business when she entered Kobe's room. Kobe called down to the front desk after she got off duty to see if she was still interested in coming up to his room. She did and they did the dirty the normal way but she became upset when Kobe wanted to back door her. The next morning, while the accuser was at home, she told her mother what had happened and her mother is the first one to mention the word rape.

[Bluntpoint]

Without opinions and conclusions this site would only have you posting on it.

No one here is denying Kobe his day in court.