If this is true, say goodbye to Kobe Bryant..

Source:
Denver Post

Bryant accuser's injuries 'obvious'
Friend says she was hurt, 'no question'

EAGLE - The alleged victim in the Kobe Bryant sexual-assault case suffered obvious physical injuries that are still apparent three weeks after the incident, a friend told The Denver Post on Monday.
"She had been hurt, there's no question about it," said Luke Bray, a high school friend who said he has helped take care of the woman since the June 30 incident.

Bray's remarks are the first confirmation of the physical evidence that Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert alluded to when he charged Bryant with one count of felony sexual assault Friday.

Bray would not discuss the specific injuries because he said the woman's attorney, Rob Wheeler, advised him not to.

Attorneys representing Bryant - Hal Haddon and Pamela Mackey - could not be reached late Monday.

The mother of the alleged victim has asked her daughter's friends to stop talking with reporters, but not before the woman's purported picture, address, phone number and e-mail address began circulating on the Internet. The photo being circulated, however, is actually of someone else, a former classmate said Monday.

"Her parents are afraid for her because she's received threats," said one family friend who asked not to be identified. "They've kind of asked everyone to step back a little bit and let things cool off."

Outraged basketball fans have e-mailed death threats to the woman, Bray said.

The 19-year-old woman has been the subject of intense media attention since July 6, when the Eagle County Sheriff's Office announced it had arrested Bryant two days earlier. The arrest stemmed from an alleged sexual assault at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, where Bryant was a guest and the woman worked.

Bryant said Friday that he had consensual sex with the woman.

The charge against the Los Angeles Lakers star carries a prison term of four years to life.

Family friends said the woman's mother called them Sunday to ask that they lower their profile. Some of the woman's friends began speaking out in her defense because they thought her side had not been fairly represented.

Mainly, her parents were concerned that a picture of the girl would eventually find its way into the public spotlight, the family friend said. After the request, the friend canceled three nationwide TV interviews and stopped speaking to print reporters.

Nearly a dozen of the woman's friends and former classmates have appeared on national TV news shows such as "Primetime," "Good Morning America," "Today," "American Morning" and "Fox News: Big Story Weekend with Rita Cosby."

Some of the friends have supported the woman, saying they believed her allegation. Others said they didn't think she was telling the truth and was just trying to grab her 15 minutes of fame.

Despite the mother's concerns, a picture that was purported to be of the woman began circulating as early as Friday on at least three websites.

But Janelle Medina, 19, who attended Eagle Valley High School and was in the choir with the alleged victim, said the photo is of another girl with the same first name.

Internet user "Dudemac" posted what he claimed are three pictures of Bryant's accuser on two websites. The pictures included two from prom night at Eagle Valley High School and one of the cheerleading and dance team of which the woman was a member.

In a chat room on the site, "Dudemac" refused to provide his name or a phone number.

"She is 19, and I really do not think it's cool for her to accuse him and not be in the news herself," Dudemac wrote.

While mainstream media outlets do not generally name victims of sex crimes, posting the woman's name or picture on the Internet does not violate the law, said Chris Beall, a Denver lawyer specializing in media law.

David Feingold, creator of the Boston-based website Freekobe.com, said he knows the woman's name and has seen pictures of her but chose not to publish them. Since Friday, he also has tried to immediately take down messages from bulletin boards if they include any reference to her name, her address or her picture. But the volume is so heavy, he hasn't been able to keep up, he said.

"I do believe that it's in wide circulation, but we try to take it down," Feingold said. "I don't want to have any part of that."

Even as her name spreads across the Internet, almost everyone in Eagle, a small town of 3,700 people, knows who she is.

Meanwhile, the Eagle County District Attorney's Office declined to comment Monday about revelations that the woman suffered a drug overdose in the months before the incident.

Bryant is due back in Colorado for an advisement hearing Aug. 6.

Also that picture of the girl, her address and phone number is NOT of her as reported here.

Travis

Thats bs. She freakin overdosed on drugs a month ago, she also was mourning the loss of one of her friends. Is there proof that this isnt a well thought out plan to nail a rich guy. She coulda caused the injurys to herself so she could have an advantage. She could have told her friends what to say and what not to.

The police would be able to tell whether or not injuries are self inflicted. I'm not understanding why people are bringing up the overdose thing...most likely she tried to kill herself after her friend died. That happens all the time....why would that have anything to do with Kobe Bryant allegedly rape her? That she's mentally unstable? Just because you're crazy doesn't mean you can't be raped....

Thats bs. She freakin overdosed on drugs a month ago, she also was mourning the loss of one of her friends. Is there proof that this isnt a well thought out plan to nail a rich guy. She coulda caused the injurys to herself so she could have an advantage. She could have told her friends what to say and what not to.

As far as the overdosed is concerned, which might be Bryant's only hope (LOL). That might not even make it to court, read this article as well.

Trial judge could rule out testimony about overdose
By Howard Pankratz, Denver Post Legal Affairs Writer

A Colorado jury may never hear that the woman who says she was sexually assaulted by basketball star Kobe Bryant had overdosed one to two months before the alleged attack, lawyers said Monday.
The 19-year-old college student suffered the overdose after a close friend died in a car accident and after learning that her high school sweetheart was dating another woman, another friend told The Denver Post.

Lawyers say Colorado judges, following a long tradition of protecting sex-assault victims, may find that the incident has no bearing on the woman's accusations against Bryant. She says Bryant attacked her June 30 at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, where she works as a receptionist and concierge.

Defense lawyer Bob Ransome said it will be difficult for Bryant's lawyers to get a judge to allow the information into court.

"There are simply no rules on that," Ransome said. "That is simply a discretionary thing with the judge. I will tell you one thing - victims are really protected by the courts, almost overprotected."

Former Denver prosecutor Karen Steinhauser, now a visiting professor at the University of Denver Law School, said the defense might try to introduce the overdose as a way to question the woman's credibility.

But Steinhauser said she doesn't believe the incident affects the woman's credibility or what occurred June 30.

"I don't believe because someone has gone through a bad time and may have taken an overdose now means we have to question their ability to tell the truth," Steinhauser said.

State law is clear that before defense lawyers can admit evidence, they must show that its relevance outweighs any prejudicial value, said Peter Weir, executive director of the Colorado District Attorneys' Council.

"It just can't be character assassination," he said. "They've got to be able to show some nexus to the case at hand and why it is important to put that information before the jury - whether previous sexual conduct, previous mental health history, drug use or whatever."

But Larry Pozner, a Denver- based lawyer and former president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said the overdosing allegation should be admitted at trial because it speaks directly to the woman's credibility and mental stability.

"A physically healthy 19-year- old who overdoses either is irrational - she has lost touch with reality - or if it is a cry for help, it is an absolute stunning cry for attention," he said.

Pozner said the overdosing revelation could be "devastating" to prosecutors, who on Friday filed a Class 3 felony sexual-assault charge against Bryant. If convicted, Bryant would face four years to life in prison.

Pozner said a jury will want to know everything about Bryant's accuser before deciding whether they believe her.

The actions of the woman when confronted with stressful situations indicates she reacts in unusual ways, Pozner said.

"If it was a fake suicide attempt, it is the ultimate attention-getting device," the lawyer said. "If it wasn't an attention-getting device ... how disturbed is she? It's a sign of irrational behavior and a break with reality. That is admissible when you ask a jury to believe this woman's testimony beyond a reasonable doubt."

Both Pozner and Ransome noted that the woman auditioned for the TV-reality show "American Idol."

"If a victim in this type of case had a propensity to be seeking publicity, that would be something very, very important to me as a defense attorney," Ransome said. "It is a possibility that this person was seeking the limelight and may find any way that she can to become a public persona. To me, it casts a shadow on the government's case, if it is true."

For almost 30 years, Colorado law has protected alleged sexual- assault victims from gossipy, malicious allegations about their sex lives, a step taken after years in which sex-assault victims were faced with horrible character assassination if they dared come forward.

Now, defendants can raise the sexual history of their accusers in only the rarest of cases.

And beyond sexual histories, Colorado judges tend to protect alleged sex-assault victims from other allegations about their lives when prosecutors claim they have no bearing on the assault allegations, the lawyers said.

Steinhauser said the change in judicial mood came in 1975 with the enactment of Colorado's rape shield statute. Before that, rape victims - rather than the accused - were the ones who often found themselves on trial. It also followed an era when some male judges made inappropriate comments that women were inviting a rape by the clothing they wore or being out late.

"The philosophy of the rape shield law is that historically, rape victims had been subject to horrible character assassination - their past sexual history, if they slept with anybody," Steinhauser said. "Everything was allowed to come in."

Source: Denver Post

Kobe's Defense team BETTER come up with another plan, cuz this might not even be heard

Travis

Oh Mr. Cochran.... Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny,


Johnny Cochran, come work a miracle.

Thats bs. She freakin overdosed on drugs a month ago, she also was mourning the loss of one of her friends. Is there proof that this isnt a well thought out plan to nail a rich guy. She coulda caused the injurys to herself so she could have an advantage. She could have told her friends what to say and what not to.

Her OD may question her stability so Bryant may have a chance with this...

Here's a similar article from AZCentral.com:

Bryant Accuser's Friend: Signs of Attack

By COLLEEN SLEVIN
Associated Press Writer

EAGLE, Colo. (AP) -- The 19-year-old woman who accused Kobe Bryant of sexually assaulting her had "visible evidence" of the alleged attack a week later, one of her friends said Tuesday.

Luke Bray declined to be more specific out of respect for his friend and her family.

"There is visible evidence of what happened," he said.

Eagle County sheriff's spokeswoman Kim Andree declined comment on Bray's statement. Neither prosecutor Mark Hurlbert nor Bryant's attorneys returned telephone messages seeking comment.

Hurlbert has said he believes he has enough physical and testimonial evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The 24-year-old Bryant was charged with one count of sexually assaulting the concierge at an exclusive mountain resort last month. He said the sex was consensual and that he only committed adultery.

The Los Angeles Lakers star is free on bond pending an Aug. 6 court hearing during which he will be formally advised of the charge against him.

An Eagle County district judge has sealed most documents, including the arrest affidavit, details of the physical evidence and other information. The Denver Post, the Los Angeles Times, NBC and the Vail Daily have asked a district judge to release some of the material.

The alleged victim is a college student who took a summer job at the Lodge & Spa at the Cordillera in nearby Edwards. Friends say she is an energetic former cheerleader known for her love of music. She once tried out for the television program, "American Idol."

Bray, 21, said he saw the woman about a week after the alleged assault on June 30. "She was still shaken up. She was pretty much in denial," he said. "She couldn't believe it."

He said the woman was also at his house Friday to watch news conferences where Hurlbert announced the charges and Bryant admitted adultery and apologized to his wife.

"She couldn't believe that his wife was sitting there and apparently didn't care about adultery," Bray said.

Sara Dabner, 17, who sang in the Eagle County High School choir with the woman, asked: "Why would a woman put herself through all of this - having people call her names? I think she just wants to see justice done. She's not trying to drag him through the dirt."

Sara Dabner, 17, who sang in the Eagle County High School choir with the woman, asked: "Why would a woman put herself through all of this - having people call her names? I think she just wants to see justice done. She's not trying to drag him through the dirt."

Money can make u do crazy things.

KB8 will prolly gte out on this on whether he did it or not.

For the last time CRIMINAL trial...NOT civil....and if she wanted money, she would have it by now, and would whatever amount of money be worth the death threats and negative things everyone's saying about her? Especially someone who's supposedly unstable? Why don't you guys think? I'm not saying Kobe's guilty, but you guys aren't thinking...wait till the trial before you bash the woman or proclaim Kobe's innocence. For all we know he beats his wife every night when he goes home...

The overdose thing will probably be surpressed anyway....that was a time of duress, as opposed to allegedly being raped in a hotel months later....

I'll go against what I just said ....it could be a frame up, she might have told Kobe she liked rough sex so he'd bruise her or something. *shrug*

As Shane said, it's not a civil suit. She won't get any money if Kobe is found guilty unless she files a civil suit afterwards. Whether Kobe did rape her is yet to be proven, but he has admitted to adultery, so she's not making everything up.

Her OD may question her stability so Bryant may have a chance with this...

It shouldn't though. It shouldn't in any rape case, because that basically assumes anyone with a history of drug problems or someone who is promiscuous cannot be raped.

Oh Mr. Cochran.... Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny, Where's Johnny,


Johnny Cochran, come work a miracle.

Just for a moment consider that Kobe might be guilty...should he not pay for the crime?

I'll go against what I just said ....it could be a frame up, she might have told Kobe she liked rough sex so he'd bruise her or something. *shrug*

Quite true. He's not been proven guilty yet, and as we all know, innocent until proven guilty. But there is apparently evidence that suggests he might be guilty so until he's cleared, the possibility remains.

For the last time CRIMINAL trial...NOT civil....and if she wanted money, she would have it by now, and would whatever amount of money be worth the death threats and negative things everyone's saying about her?

You're slightly off-base here, Enahs Live ... civil suits generally aren't filed until the matter is resolved through criminal proceedings, so she certainly won't have a wad of settlement cash right now. And as for those of you who continue to statedly reject the notion that Kobe's accusor is a gold-digger, keep in mind she's retained the services of Georgetown attorney Bob Wheeler, who has certainly advised his client to keep quiet, even if it means rejecting a $10,000 interview. First, $10,000 is chump change in comparison to what she could extract from Kobe after a successful lawsuit. Also, accepting a paid interview would probably cause irreperable damage to her credibility, (then she would be a gold-digger) and could even jeopardize Mark Hurlbert's capacity to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. In any case, I can't say with strict certainly that this woman's solely out to exploit Kobe Bryant, but I'd be highly surprised if we didn't see a civil suit within the next year.

Now regarding the significance of her overdose, and whether or not it matters ...

It shouldn't though. It shouldn't in any rape case, because that basically assumes anyone with a history of drug problems or someone who is promiscuous cannot be raped.

Andrew, I wouldn't go so far to say it shouldn't matter in any rape case; first, we need to see what the facts of this case can bring to light. That's priority one. I will agree, however, that the defense shouldn't rely on the victim's drug abuse as its chief justification for Kobe's innocence, but I don't think they will. Instead, if neither the physical evidence nor the witness testimonials (the two most substantive factors in trial law) can definitively sway the jury either way, (which would effectively reduce the case to a "he-said, she said" crapshoot) credibility will be paramount. And we'll be left to juxtapose someone with a previously flawless reputation to someone with what appears to be a skeleton or two, and a tint of emotional instability, some might argue. I understand what you're getting at, but if the evidence comes out a wash, this incident of her overdose (and everything else essential in determining character for both the accuser and the accused) will and should matter.

And as for those of you who continue to statedly reject the notion that Kobe's accusor is a gold-digger, keep in mind she's retained the services of Georgetown attorney Bob Wheeler, who has certainly advised his client to keep quiet, even if it means rejecting a $10,000 interview. First, $10,000 is chump change in comparison to what she could extract from Kobe after a successful lawsuit. Also, accepting a paid interview would probably cause irreperable damage to her credibility, (then she would be a gold-digger) and could even jeopardize Mark Hurlbert's capacity to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

There's a possibility she is a gold-digger. But just because Kobe has a clean past doesn't mean he's automatically innocent or that the girl is a gold-digger. As I said before, the truth could lie between both sides - she genuinely feels she was raped, but that cannot be proven in a court of law.

The sad thing is if she loses, she's probably going to be labelled a gold-digger even if the claims are genuine and not vindictive.

Instead, if neither the physical evidence nor the witness testimonials (the two most substantive factors in trial law) can definitively sway the jury either way, (which would effectively reduce the case to a "he-said, she said" crapshoot) credibility will be paramount.

Of course. But you can't immediately dismiss the case based on her credibility. There's enough evidence for the matter to be taken this far, it would be wrong to throw it out simply because of someone's past. As I said before, you couldn't (or perhaps shouldn't is a better word) dismiss charges of rape simply because a woman has been promiscuous in the past - to suggest that because she's had several sexual partners, she cannot be raped. That's not the case here of course, it's just a scenario. But it's the same idea, allowing a person's character to get in the way of other evidence.

Even if Kobe gets away with this he would still be remebered with this incident. When he plays to a city like denver, utah were people are conservative, he could recieve an unpleasant welcome. Let's face it the damage has been done and it can not be forgotten.

Even if Kobe gets away with this he would still be remebered with this incident.

definitely, this is would remain a dark spot in an otherwise illustrious career of his.

HAHHAHAHAHAHHHHAHAHAhHHAHA

Physical Injuries a week later..................ok.................so your telling me that injuries dont show up for a week ok.
Its very possible she could of just done these to herself, and they've lasted three weeks, yer right! they would not last that long if anything did happen.

Her OD will not help, because people would see her as a unstable person, which is another reason to say she has set all this up. and her statement made no sense at all. "He was being all nice and laid back and kobe like, then he all of a sudden snapped and went crazy and forced himself onto me"
Now seriously, who the hell would believe that!!!
Kobe has had no history of ever being a psycho of some sort or even get a parking fine.

This girl has had a miserble stressful last couple of months with the drugs overdose and her friend dying, which can cause depression which can make people say and do stupid things, and also lie just for attention. Im sorry, but i cant see Kobe guilty in this.

When he plays to a city like denver, utah were people are conservative, he could recieve an unpleasant welcome.

Kobe is never welcome in cities where he scores over 40 every time,

Regarding the overdose, I read that it won't be used unless it's proven that has anything to do with the case, in that fact, the Judge would agree to bring facts from the past about that girl.

The girl would have file charges showing that she was phisically injured in the act and she didn't. Text from document charging Bryant

If she were injured by any way, she would have said that. All I saw in other links is that some friend said this, another friend said that, those friends were not raped, those friends were not there watching the action, also if that girl would have showed evidences that she was injured in any manner, Kobe would have been in jail by now, waiting for a trial but in jail. The fact that she waited so long to make this public will affect the case as well. Nobody waits 2/3 weeks to say she/he was raped.

DENVER (AP)— By insisting he only "made the mistake of adultery," Kobe Bryant left prosecutors with the challenge of proving he forced a woman to have sex with him.

"He said, she said" cases can be the toughest for prosecutors, said Steve Kron, a longtime sports criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles.

"How do they prove it's not consensual?" he said. "It's hard to prove (with) two adults in a room having sex that the sex was not consensual.

"Do you have witnesses or physical evidence? Was she bruised, scratched, injured in some fashion?"

No she didn't show any evidence to the Police, if she would have, Kobe would be in jail waiting for the judgement.

The sad thing is if she loses, she's probably going to be labelled a gold-digger even if the claims are genuine and not vindictive.

But she's a regular person & maybe sick, not known in the whole country like Bryant is, who would care in 2 months when they see her around? However, all of us will keep this in memory if Bryant is found guilty.

There's a possibility she is a gold-digger. But just because Kobe has a clean past doesn't mean he's automatically innocent or that the girl is a gold-digger. As I said before, the truth could lie between both sides - she genuinely feels she was raped, but that cannot be proven in a court of law.

Agreed, agreed, agreed.

Of course. But you can't immediately dismiss the case based on her credibility. There's enough evidence for the matter to be taken this far, it would be wrong to throw it out simply because of someone's past. As I said before, you couldn't (or perhaps shouldn't is a better word) dismiss charges of rape simply because a woman has been promiscuous in the past - to suggest that because she's had several sexual partners, she cannot be raped. That's not the case here of course, it's just a scenario. But it's the same idea, allowing a person's character to get in the way of other evidence.

I'm with you here, too, inasmuch as the evidence and the witness testimonies both remain the two most important criteria on which to base Kobe's innocence/guilt. But like I said, if the evidence doesn't clearly affirm Kobe's innocence or guilt, if the facts are too nebulous, it'll come down to Kobe v. Farber on the witness stand, where twelve jurors will base everything on character. But yes, I agree: a sketchy past shouldn't eliminate the possibility that this woman could've been sexually assaulted; however, if neither side can produce evidence that's compelling enough to the jury, then we'll be left to sit back and watch Hurlbert, Mackey, Haddon, etc. go digging for skeletons.

You're slightly off-base here, Enahs Live ... civil suits generally aren't filed until the matter is resolved through criminal proceedings, so she certainly won't have a wad of settlement cash right now.

If all she wanted was money, wouldn't she be able to get more if she simply told Kobe Bryant that she'd press charges if she didn't get such and such money? I know how the civil/criminal thing works, but if she simply wanted money out of it, it'd be a totally different trial than it has been. The distinction I made was more for the people who are saying that all she wants is money...well, if all she wants is money, why is she destroying another man's life by putting him on trial unless she genuinely was raped? She'll get loads of money regardless of the outcome simply because of interviews post-trial and what not....so it is possible she's a gold-digger, but how many superstars in the NBA are actually charged and taken to court with things such as these? I mean, really, think about how many women have probably been "raped" by NBA players like Ruben Patterson or Fred Hoiberg (j/k), but haven't pressed charges because they simply gave them a lot of money? To me, those are the gold-diggers, the ones that are willing to settle out of court....the ones that aren't are the ones that are willing to take the proverbial shot in the mouth and press charges. I mean, look at what everyone's saying about her...she HAD to have known what people would say and that no one would believe Kobe did it, so if she was just in it for money, WHY would she press charges?

And as for those of you who continue to statedly reject the notion that Kobe's accusor is a gold-digger, keep in mind she's retained the services of Georgetown attorney Bob Wheeler, who has certainly advised his client to keep quiet, even if it means rejecting a $10,000 interview.

Yeah, she has a good lawyer, which means that something did happen: Kobe either raped her, or she's lying and they're trying to win. However, it'd be bad business practice for a lawyer to take on a case on behalf of the victim if they were lying, and if I'm not mistaken, Bob Wheeler's a well-known lawyer.

First, $10,000 is chump change in comparison to what she could extract from Kobe after a successful lawsuit. Also, accepting a paid interview would probably cause irreperable damage to her credibility, (then she would be a gold-digger) and could even jeopardize Mark Hurlbert's capacity to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. In any case, I can't say with strict certainly that this woman's solely out to exploit Kobe Bryant, but I'd be highly surprised if we didn't see a civil suit within the next year.

I know $10,000 is chump change, but if she's a true gold-digger, she's a really smart one not to do the interview....but then again, she's a stupid one if this really didn't happen and she's lying for money. In that case, she probably wouldn't be able to win a civil case against Bryant if she doesn't win the criminal case. OJ got off on a technicality and lost the civil suit. This is completely different....whoever wins the criminal trial will win the civil trial.

Physical Injuries a week later..................ok.................so your telling me that injuries dont show up for a week ok.
Its very possible she could of just done these to herself, and they've lasted three weeks, yer right! they would not last that long if anything did happen.

Do you know anything about injuries from rape? Or how long severe cuts and bruises last? Ever been in a car accident? Bruises like that stay around, generally, for at least three weeks, and in rape cases there is usually quite a bit of physical injury, especially if the man is as strong as Kobe Bryant. There can be tearing in the vagina, bruises and cuts on the face, abrasions on the wrists from holding the woman down, and so on. There's countless numbers of injuries that are what makes rape such a horrible crime. Not only is there the emotional scarring of being violated in such a way, but there's also the phsyical parts. And you think those injuries wouldn't last three weeks? The cut on my finger from work has been around for a week and a half, and it wasn't serious at all...a single band-aid took care of it.

As for her doing it to herself, medical examiners and doctors aren't morons. They go to school for ages, and they can tell if injuries are self-inflicted. If anything, I'm guessing they were more internal injuries than external....

Her OD will not help, because people would see her as a unstable person, which is another reason to say she has set all this up. and her statement made no sense at all. "He was being all nice and laid back and kobe like, then he all of a sudden snapped and went crazy and forced himself onto me"
Now seriously, who the hell would believe that!!!
Kobe has had no history of ever being a psycho of some sort or even get a parking fine.

I doubt you have his police record, if he has one, and it's not like the media would make a big deal out of Kobe getting a speeding or parking ticket. Also, you don't KNOW Kobe, so who knows what he's like behind closed doors....and people do snap. It annoys me that Kobe fans assume that this is a setup and can't accept the fact that their hero, might, just might, be a rapist....I'm not saying his is, but good people do bad things, and this just might be another case of it. Even if he is found guilty with concrete evidence, you'll be crying that the trial was fixed. Get over it...until the trial is over, don't bash the victim and show her some respect. Just because you don't think your hero did it doesn't mean that he didn't....a woman was allegedly RAPED here. THINK about that, and think about hor horrible that is. Now think about your beloved Lakers and their purported dynasty. Which is more serious now, a raped woman or NBA rings? I doubt you just want Kobe to be cleared of charges because of his innocence, but because he's your favorite player on your favorite team, you don't think he did it. You really need to get your priorities straight...

This girl has had a miserble stressful last couple of months with the drugs overdose and her friend dying, which can cause depression which can make people say and do stupid things, and also lie just for attention. Im sorry, but i cant see Kobe guilty in this.

You don't have any reasons to say Kobe's guilty, nor do you have any reasons to say he's innocent. Wait till the trial and stop assuming that the woman is out to get money or knock Kobe off his pedestal. Kobe's already done that himself by commiting adultery in the first place, let alone being charged with rape.

very well put. i agree.

to all that will contribute to this discussion- please don't pick apart shane's latest post to look for grammar/spelling mistakes so you can present an argument. if you will retort, please post something valid and relevant

The distinction I made was more for the people who are saying that all she wants is money...well, if all she wants is money, why is she destroying another man's life by putting him on trial unless she genuinely was raped? She'll get loads of money regardless of the outcome simply because of interviews post-trial and what not.

I agree, she'll have plenty of opportunities to bring in some post-trial bank ... but of course, she wouldn't have this money "regardless." Remember, she first had to perpetuate the allegations against Bryant, and in the process, "destroy his life," as you say.

To me, those are the gold-diggers, the ones that are willing to settle out of court....the ones that aren't are the ones that are willing to take the proverbial shot in the mouth and press charges.

I'm totally with you here. I don't think it was her intention (at least not in the sense of blackmail) to entrap Kobe and finagle some bucks out of him. It seems to me, though, that she could've retroactively decided, "Hey, Kobe and I had sex/Kobe raped me, and looking at it now, everything seems to fit just right. Why don't I get compensated here?" Ultimately, we don't know her true intentions on the matter, so we're only left to speculate on what we do know. That said, what do we know? Well, after the alleged incident, she's since retained her own attorney, which (excluding criminal proceedings) is often indicative of a brewing lawsuit. Remember, Mark Hurlbert's been very adament about protecting the identity of this woman, so I don't think she's hired a big name (and therefore, high-priced name) like Wheeler simply to comfort her emotional tumbles.

However, it'd be bad business practice for a lawyer to take on a case on behalf of the victim if they were lying, and if I'm not mistaken, Bob Wheeler's a well-known lawyer.

Enahs Live, maybe you're not making this associating directly, and maybe not even at all, but to assert that Katelyn Farber's claims have absolute legitimacy simply because she hired a high-profile attorney, and because it shows poor judgment for a high-profile attorney to represent a lying client is a post hoc fallacy. I do agree with your above quotation, but what do you think the chances are of this woman prefacing her situation to Wheeler with, "Hey, everything you've heard from me is a lie, Kobe's innocent as can be, but if there's money to be made for us, then let's go make it!"? There's a lot of uncertainties here, but the one constant in this case from here on out will be the stories we hear from both sides, regardless of who they're telling them to.

I agree, she'll have plenty of opportunities to bring in some post-trial bank ... but of course, she wouldn't have this money "regardless." Remember, she first had to perpetuate the allegations against Bryant, and in the process, "destroy his life," as you say

I should have elaborated. I might have, but hell, I don't even feel like reading my long-ass post over again. I meant that she'll make money regardless of the outcome of the trial; however, if she was simply in it for money, she probably would have made far more out of court simply because of court costs and it's more expensive to keep something secret, no?

It seems to me, though, that she could've retroactively decided, "Hey, Kobe and I had sex/Kobe raped me, and looking at it now, everything seems to fit just right. Why don't I get compensated here?" Ultimately, we don't know her true intentions on the matter, so we're only left to speculate on what we do know. That said, what do we know?

That's pretty much my point; none of us know anything, we can only speculate. However, it bothers me that pretty much everyone assume's he's innocent simply because of his public image or because they're a fan of Kobe Bryant. Yes, everyone's innocent until proven guilty in the courts eyes, but if the mayor of your town is arrested for sexual assualt, you're horrified and assume he did it, even if you say 'no, he couldn't have done that.' If there isn't a valid reason to arrest and charge someone, the police usually don't do it, and I don't think a small town wants to take on a millionaire's lawyers if a civil case against the town (for defamation of character, wrongful accustation, and so on) comes out of this; they had a good reason and thought they could prove that Bryant raped the woman, and, because of that, they arrested and charged him with the crime. It would destroy the town if they were simply 'out to get a superstar'...especially considering he was there spending what was probably gobs of money in the first place....and I"m rambling now.

Enahs Live, maybe you're not making this associating directly, and maybe not even at all, but to assert that Katelyn Farber's claims have absolute legitimacy simply because she hired a high-profile attorney, and because it shows poor judgment for a high-profile attorney to represent a lying client is a post hoc fallacy.

To me, hiring a high-profile lawyer would be a waste of money if it turns out you were lying. If a lawyer's a good one, then he'll think about the case before he takes it; if it would drag his name through the mud, most probably wouldn't take it, and, from what I know of the attorney (if I'm thinking of the right one), he doesn't really seem like the type of guy who's in it for the money. I never said they had absolute legitimacy, but to me, it makes her more credible than if she hired some ambulance chaser. If she is fixing this, and he finds out, it wouldn't surprise me if he dropped the case....

I do agree with your above quotation, but what do you think the chances are of this woman prefacing her situation to Wheeler with, "Hey, everything you've heard from me is a lie, Kobe's innocent as can be, but if there's money to be made for us, then let's go make it!"? There's a lot of uncertainties here, but the one constant in this case from here on out will be the stories we hear from both sides, regardless of who they're telling them to.

Oh, no, I definately don't think that she'd tell him if she were lying; however, I highly doubt a high-profile lawyer wouldn't do any kind of research before taking on a case of this magnitude.

The bottom line is, we can only speculate about what happened and what her motives are until the trial begins. Until that point in time, I suggest everyone, to put it bluntly, get off Kobe's dick and think about the alleged victim here. Kobe's on trial, yet you act like he's the one who was raped. I'll say it again...get your priorities straight....

Kobe's on trial, yet you act like he's the one who was raped. I'll say it again...get your priorities straight....

I sure hope this wasn't a message to me!

However, it bothers me that pretty much everyone assume's he's innocent simply because of his public image or because they're a fan of Kobe Bryant.

I'm sympathetic to your irritations. But similarly, isn't it troubling to hear thousands of people assuming just the opposite, that he's unquestionably guilty? Either way you go, a knee-jerk rush to judgment without knowing any details of the case carries as much weight as Lara Flynn Boyle. Granted, you haven't done this, and neither have I. Ultimately, I think we can find some common ground in our collective lack of knowledge regarding this case, something everyone else can hopefully acknowledge as well. I agree that there's too many Laker fans calling this a conspiracy-filled witchhunt, and also too many Kobe-haters who're ready to lock up him for life. By posting, I was simply hoping to play devil's advocate and offer a rejoinder to (what I perceived to be) a few over-the-top comments from generally well-reasoned minds. (The "I know Kobe did it," and the "Kobe's clearly innocent" posts aren't worth my time.)

If anyone watched Around the Horn Wednesday, L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke sounded off after defeating Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley in the Showdown (in a screw-job incited by Kellerman, mind you!) on the Bryant case. He directed his comments primarily to the media, but his simplistic and terse message seems relevant to all the my-mind's-made-up-and-you're-not-changing-it-partisans watching this case from the outside looking in. Very plainly, he said, "We don't know what happened, so just shut up, alright?"

Her OD will not help, because people would see her as a unstable person, which is another reason to say she has set all this up.

They are not going to just say "Well, she's unstable. Case closed." There's evidence that a crime may have been committed, so Kobe is not suddenly in the clear.

"He was being all nice and laid back and kobe like, then he all of a sudden snapped and went crazy and forced himself onto me"

It's not an unprecedented situation. Are you suggesting that Kobe Bryant is such as perfect person, he's above human flaws and behaviour?

Now seriously, who the hell would believe that!!!

As Shane said, it's possible. The whole world is not in love with Kobe Bryant, they're not going to dimiss these charges because he's a great basketball player.

Kobe has had no history of ever being a psycho of some sort or even get a parking fine.

That doesn't mean he's not capable of doing something bad. I don't believe that Kobe Bryant has never done anything bad in his lifetime, even if it's something as simple as talking back to his parents or calling someone a bad name as a kid.

This girl has had a miserble stressful last couple of months with the drugs overdose and her friend dying, which can cause depression which can make people say and do stupid things, and also lie just for attention.

Maybe so, but the matter wouldn't go to trial unless there's some evidence.

Kobe is never welcome in cities where he scores over 40 every time

I know you're just kidding, but I doubt he's being charged for that reason alone.

But she's a regular person & maybe sick, not known in the whole country like Bryant is, who would care in 2 months when they see her around? However, all of us will keep this in memory if Bryant is found guilty.

I know, it won't be as big a deal as Kobe being found guilty. I just meant that if Kobe is found to be not guilty, she'll be dismissed as a gold-digger when the truth of the matter might be there simply wasn't enough evidence. Most of us still say OJ is a murderer, but as far as the law is concerned, he isn't.

however, if neither side can produce evidence that's compelling enough to the jury, then we'll be left to sit back and watch Hurlbert, Mackey, Haddon, etc. go digging for skeletons.

True, and I guess that's the only thing you can do when the evidence does not prove either case.

You don't have any reasons to say Kobe's guilty, nor do you have any reasons to say he's innocent. Wait till the trial and stop assuming that the woman is out to get money or knock Kobe off his pedestal. Kobe's already done that himself by commiting adultery in the first place, let alone being charged with rape.

My thoughts exactly. The fact that Kobe committed adultery should give some credit to her claim. After all, it's not like she's some random person who has conjured up some fantastic tale. Kobe has admitted to having had sex with her. She contends it was rape, he denies that is the case.

And even if she is a gold-digger, even if it was consensual and she's making a false claim about rape, Kobe Bryant still committed adultery. He didn't have to have sex with her, but he did.

to all that will contribute to this discussion- please don't pick apart shane's latest post to look for grammar/spelling mistakes so you can present an argument. if you will retort, please post something valid and relevant

I think that should go for any discussion. It doesn't clever or witty to pick up a typo or spelling mistake, especially if that's your only contribution to the conversation.

That's pretty much my point; none of us know anything, we can only speculate. However, it bothers me that pretty much everyone assume's he's innocent simply because of his public image or because they're a fan of Kobe Bryant.

Again, those are my feelings on the matter. However, if this were my favourite player (Michael Jordan), I would probably be the same. But you know, if Michael Jordan was found guilty of rape, I'd have to live with it. It would be depressing to see someone I admire do such a thing, but if he did it, he did it.

yes shane, true, but nobody noticed them till a week later, which is enough time to make the injuries manually.

and to almost every single one of your arguments............you dont KNOW who the girl is either. you wouldnt know if shes a compulsive liar or has psychotic episodes.
and dont bring up theres never been any records of it, coz then kobes clean record can be used

and her statement still is very unbeleiveable, if anyone truly can believe that to heart, then they really must hate Kobe....................or be racist.