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CNN Live At Daybreak

Announcement Today in Kobe Bryant Case

Aired July 18, 2003 - 06:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The waiting is over. After two weeks, Colorado prosecutors say they'll tell the nation today whether Kobe Bryant will be charged with sexual assault.
We're on the phone now with CNN's Brian Cabell from Eagle County, Colorado, to talk more about this case.

This news conference is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Any guesses as to what the prosecutor might say?

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, a lot of guesses here. As you say, it's been a long two weeks, a lot of speculation for these last two weeks, and I think we're just going to have to wait.

A number of options open to the D.A. here. There are varying degrees of sexual assault that Bryant could be charged with. There are other possible charges, such things as unlawful confinement he could be charged with. There could be no charges whatsoever. The D.A. could decide this was consensual sex or there was no sex whatsoever. Or -- and this is an outside chance -- it could be sent to a grand jury. Sometimes this is done in high-profile cases if the prosecutor thinks this is politically charged or a seriously flawed case.

After this announcement, regardless of what it is, Bryant's attorney will be giving her response from Los Angeles. We haven't heard that Bryant himself will be there yet, but that is a possibility as well.

And if there are charges, Carol, then he will have to return here August 6 to face those charges. A trial, we're told, would be maybe six to nine months down the road. That might be during the NBA season.

But, again, there could be no charges whatsoever, and this could be the end of it -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Or they could also send it to a grand jury, but that's not very likely, is it?

CABELL: Not very likely. Normally you're doing it when it's highly politically charged, when people are looking for political cover, or if the prosecutor thinks maybe there is a problem with the case as it stands and he just wants to give it to somebody else. That has happened in high-profile cases. It rarely happens. But this is the kind of case where it could happen.

COSTELLO: All right, Brian Cabell reporting live on the phone from Eagle County, Colorado.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired July 18, 2003 - 06:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The waiting is over. After two weeks, Colorado prosecutors say they'll tell the nation today whether Kobe Bryant will be charged with sexual assault.
We're on the phone now with CNN's Brian Cabell from Eagle County, Colorado, to talk more about this case.

This news conference is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Any guesses as to what the prosecutor might say?

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, a lot of guesses here. As you say, it's been a long two weeks, a lot of speculation for these last two weeks, and I think we're just going to have to wait.

A number of options open to the D.A. here. There are varying degrees of sexual assault that Bryant could be charged with. There are other possible charges, such things as unlawful confinement he could be charged with. There could be no charges whatsoever. The D.A. could decide this was consensual sex or there was no sex whatsoever. Or -- and this is an outside chance -- it could be sent to a grand jury. Sometimes this is done in high-profile cases if the prosecutor thinks this is politically charged or a seriously flawed case.

After this announcement, regardless of what it is, Bryant's attorney will be giving her response from Los Angeles. We haven't heard that Bryant himself will be there yet, but that is a possibility as well.

And if there are charges, Carol, then he will have to return here August 6 to face those charges. A trial, we're told, would be maybe six to nine months down the road. That might be during the NBA season.

But, again, there could be no charges whatsoever, and this could be the end of it -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Or they could also send it to a grand jury, but that's not very likely, is it?

CABELL: Not very likely. Normally you're doing it when it's highly politically charged, when people are looking for political cover, or if the prosecutor thinks maybe there is a problem with the case as it stands and he just wants to give it to somebody else. That has happened in high-profile cases. It rarely happens. But this is the kind of case where it could happen.

COSTELLO: All right, Brian Cabell reporting live on the phone from Eagle County, Colorado.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.