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American Morning
Interview with Mark Hurlbert, D.A. of Eagle County, Colorado
Aired July 21, 2003 - 07:16 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the legal fight NBA superstar Kobe Bryant is facing. After he was charged Friday in the sexual assault of a 19-year-old Colorado woman, Bryant held a news conference to answer the charge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOBE BRYANT, CHARGED WITH FELONY SEXUAL ASSAULT: I'm innocent. You know? I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: If he's convicted, Bryant could face four years to life in prison.
The prosecutor in the case is Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert. And earlier this morning, I asked him whether his case against Bryant relies mostly on physical evidence.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK HURLBERT, EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Well, in any felony case and certainly any felony sex assault case, we rely both on the testimonial and the physical evidence. It's the whole package, basically.
O'BRIEN: So, you intend to put the young woman on the stand for testimonial evidence?
HURLBERT: I'm not going to comment as to what may or may not happen at trial at this time.
O'BRIEN: Have you spoken to the young woman since your announcement on Friday? How is she holding up? How is she doing?
HURLBERT: She's doing OK. She's a strong girl. She is holding up pretty well, considering everything.
O'BRIEN: Is your goal in this trial to get a conviction and get jail time for Kobe Bryant?
HURLBERT: Well, really, I don't want to comment as to one way or the other as far as jail time. At this point, my goal is to get a conviction in this case.
O'BRIEN: There are some who would say you're a prosecutor in a relatively small county. Are you concerned that Kobe Bryant's high- priced attorneys are going to come in and basically outgun you and outspend you in this case?
HURLBERT: Well, certainly when dealing with someone of Mr. Bryant's celebrity, there are a lot of difficulties in a case. But right now, I'm evaluating as to what sort of other resources we're going to need in this case.
O'BRIEN: Meaning what exactly? You would go somewhere else for more resources? And who would you go to?
HURLBERT: Well, what happens is we are funded by the counties, and there's a question as to whether I need to expand my budget and go back to the county, or what exactly I need to do. As I said, I'm still evaluating that at this time.
O'BRIEN: Let's take a look for a moment at the demographics of Eagle County and the surrounding areas. From what I've read, it's something like 1 percent of the population is African-American. Do you think that bodes for a change of venue, rather, in this case?
HURLBERT: Well, the people of Eagle County are really the fairest people and the juries that I've done in Eagle County. It really doesn't matter as to race or sex. They're just very fair people.
O'BRIEN: But fairness notwithstanding, there is certainly on just a numbers element of how many black people live in Eagle County and other counties on numbers alone, a judge might say it doesn't really add up, we need to move the venue, don't you think?
HURLBERT: Well, actually, Soledad, the standard is can you get a fair and impartial jury? It isn't can you get a fair and impartial black jury, or can you get a fair and impartial white jury? It's can you get a fair and impartial jury?
O'BRIEN: There are reports that this young woman waited 12 hours before she came to police. Do you think that jeopardizes your case in any way?
HURLBERT: I'm not going to comment one way or the other on the facts of this case.
O'BRIEN: A number of her friends have been coming forward to the media, certainly to print journalists as well, to tell a little bit about her. Have you been happy with the way that she's been portrayed in the press?
HURLBERT: Well, it is unfortunate. I would rather that her privacy be honored and that she be able to remain private.
O'BRIEN: All right, what happens next in this case?
HURLBERT: Next, it's set for August 6, where he'll be advised of his rights and the charges against him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Colorado>
Aired July 21, 2003 - 07:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the legal fight NBA superstar Kobe Bryant is facing. After he was charged Friday in the sexual assault of a 19-year-old Colorado woman, Bryant held a news conference to answer the charge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOBE BRYANT, CHARGED WITH FELONY SEXUAL ASSAULT: I'm innocent. You know? I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: If he's convicted, Bryant could face four years to life in prison.
The prosecutor in the case is Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert. And earlier this morning, I asked him whether his case against Bryant relies mostly on physical evidence.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK HURLBERT, EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Well, in any felony case and certainly any felony sex assault case, we rely both on the testimonial and the physical evidence. It's the whole package, basically.
O'BRIEN: So, you intend to put the young woman on the stand for testimonial evidence?
HURLBERT: I'm not going to comment as to what may or may not happen at trial at this time.
O'BRIEN: Have you spoken to the young woman since your announcement on Friday? How is she holding up? How is she doing?
HURLBERT: She's doing OK. She's a strong girl. She is holding up pretty well, considering everything.
O'BRIEN: Is your goal in this trial to get a conviction and get jail time for Kobe Bryant?
HURLBERT: Well, really, I don't want to comment as to one way or the other as far as jail time. At this point, my goal is to get a conviction in this case.
O'BRIEN: There are some who would say you're a prosecutor in a relatively small county. Are you concerned that Kobe Bryant's high- priced attorneys are going to come in and basically outgun you and outspend you in this case?
HURLBERT: Well, certainly when dealing with someone of Mr. Bryant's celebrity, there are a lot of difficulties in a case. But right now, I'm evaluating as to what sort of other resources we're going to need in this case.
O'BRIEN: Meaning what exactly? You would go somewhere else for more resources? And who would you go to?
HURLBERT: Well, what happens is we are funded by the counties, and there's a question as to whether I need to expand my budget and go back to the county, or what exactly I need to do. As I said, I'm still evaluating that at this time.
O'BRIEN: Let's take a look for a moment at the demographics of Eagle County and the surrounding areas. From what I've read, it's something like 1 percent of the population is African-American. Do you think that bodes for a change of venue, rather, in this case?
HURLBERT: Well, the people of Eagle County are really the fairest people and the juries that I've done in Eagle County. It really doesn't matter as to race or sex. They're just very fair people.
O'BRIEN: But fairness notwithstanding, there is certainly on just a numbers element of how many black people live in Eagle County and other counties on numbers alone, a judge might say it doesn't really add up, we need to move the venue, don't you think?
HURLBERT: Well, actually, Soledad, the standard is can you get a fair and impartial jury? It isn't can you get a fair and impartial black jury, or can you get a fair and impartial white jury? It's can you get a fair and impartial jury?
O'BRIEN: There are reports that this young woman waited 12 hours before she came to police. Do you think that jeopardizes your case in any way?
HURLBERT: I'm not going to comment one way or the other on the facts of this case.
O'BRIEN: A number of her friends have been coming forward to the media, certainly to print journalists as well, to tell a little bit about her. Have you been happy with the way that she's been portrayed in the press?
HURLBERT: Well, it is unfortunate. I would rather that her privacy be honored and that she be able to remain private.
O'BRIEN: All right, what happens next in this case?
HURLBERT: Next, it's set for August 6, where he'll be advised of his rights and the charges against him.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Colorado>
