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CNN Live At Daybreak

Kobe Bryant Hearing Today

Aired August 06, 2003 - 06:02   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: Get ready, Colorado. Kobe Bryant is due in court today to face the charges against him. Will he speak? Who will be with him? Will the media behave?
To Eagle now and CNN's Sean Callebs.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In a matter of hours, Kobe Bryant will be in the Eagle County Courthouse, a chance to formally hear the charges against him, as well as be apprised of his rights. It's expected to be a short session, perhaps 10 minutes or so, but the build-up and the media attention have been weeks in the making.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): The county prosecutor dropped a bombshell July 18.

MARK HURLBERT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: The defendant was charged with one count of sexual assault.

CALLEBS: A mere 10 words, a criminal allegation that could haunt basketball star Kobe Bryant the rest of his life, even if he's found not guilty.

Almost immediately, the L.A. Lakers star, accompanied by his wife, said he didn't commit a crime.

KOBE BRYANT, L.A. LAKERS: I'm innocent.

CALLEBS: But he did admit to what he called "consensual sex" with the alleged victim.

Bryant didn't want to have to be here, but Judge Frederick Gannett insisted. The hearing itself could last only a matter of minutes -- basically a reading of the charges. Bryant and his legal team will have the option of asking for a preliminary hearing within 30 days.

The stakes are high for Bryant. If convicted, punishment could be broad -- anything from life in prison, to no time behind bars but strict probation. Still, legal experts say even probation would change Bryant's life forever. Wherever he lives, the star player would have to register as a sex offender.

DAVID LUGERT, FORMER PROSECUTOR: And if he stays in a specific community, he would be required to register there at least once every year for the rest of his life as a sex offender.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: Don't expect to hear any of the details of the state's case against Bryant today. That will have to come at a preliminary hearing.

And while today's session will only last a matter of minutes, it is a significant step in what could be a long, difficult legal odyssey for Kobe Bryant.

In Eagle, Colorado, I'm Sean Callebs.

Now back to you.

COSTELLO: We'll answer more of your questions surrounding the Kobe Bryant case later this hour. Legal analyst Kendall Coffey will join us live.

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 August 6, 2003 - 06:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Get ready, Colorado. Kobe Bryant is due in court today to face the charges against him. Will he speak? Who will be with him? Will the media behave?
To Eagle now and CNN's Sean Callebs.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In a matter of hours, Kobe Bryant will be in the Eagle County Courthouse, a chance to formally hear the charges against him, as well as be apprised of his rights. It's expected to be a short session, perhaps 10 minutes or so, but the build-up and the media attention have been weeks in the making.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): The county prosecutor dropped a bombshell July 18.

MARK HURLBERT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: The defendant was charged with one count of sexual assault.

CALLEBS: A mere 10 words, a criminal allegation that could haunt basketball star Kobe Bryant the rest of his life, even if he's found not guilty.

Almost immediately, the L.A. Lakers star, accompanied by his wife, said he didn't commit a crime.

KOBE BRYANT, L.A. LAKERS: I'm innocent.

CALLEBS: But he did admit to what he called "consensual sex" with the alleged victim.

Bryant didn't want to have to be here, but Judge Frederick Gannett insisted. The hearing itself could last only a matter of minutes -- basically a reading of the charges. Bryant and his legal team will have the option of asking for a preliminary hearing within 30 days.

The stakes are high for Bryant. If convicted, punishment could be broad -- anything from life in prison, to no time behind bars but strict probation. Still, legal experts say even probation would change Bryant's life forever. Wherever he lives, the star player would have to register as a sex offender.

DAVID LUGERT, FORMER PROSECUTOR: And if he stays in a specific community, he would be required to register there at least once every year for the rest of his life as a sex offender.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: Don't expect to hear any of the details of the state's case against Bryant today. That will have to come at a preliminary hearing.

And while today's session will only last a matter of minutes, it is a significant step in what could be a long, difficult legal odyssey for Kobe Bryant.

In Eagle, Colorado, I'm Sean Callebs.

Now back to you.

COSTELLO: We'll answer more of your questions surrounding the Kobe Bryant case later this hour. Legal analyst Kendall Coffey will join us live.

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