Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Kobe Bryant's First Day in Court

Aired August 06, 2003 - 08:04   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now this morning, to Kobe Bryant's first day in court. The NBA star will make a brief appearance later today to hear the sexual assault charge against him.
Vinnie Politan will be covering the hearing for Court TV.

He joins us now this morning from Eagle, Colorado.

Good morning to you, Vinnie.

VINNIE POLITAN, COURT TV: Good morning, Heidi.

COLLINS: This is obviously a big day for the basketball star. Tell us, once again, what is the point of this hearing today?

POLITAN: Well, the point is he's going to hear the charges read against him today, and that's really what it is. It's also significant because we're going to see Kobe Bryant in court for the first time in his new role as a criminal defendant. So it's going to be important for him his appearance in court. Is he going to be there with his wife Vanessa? How is he going to look? What is demeanor going to be like? Because these images are going to be played over and over again to the public. And those 12 jurors who will ultimately make the decision in this case are part of the public and will probably see this image over and over again. So it's really an important day for Kobe Bryant.

COLLINS: Obviously, as we've been talking for several days now, what a huge, huge case this has been for the media, a huge presence there. The day is going to get very, very busy, I'm sure, for you.

Is there anything that Kobe can do now at this point to actually try to tone down that image that you were talking about of himself as a criminal defendant?

POLITAN: Well, I think what he has to do is -- there's a few things you have to do. One, you can't be coming into town, a small town like Eagle, as a prima donna. So you don't want to have that huge entourage. Of course, you're going to need a little bit of security. But don't make that huge splash, because people are going to see that image, as well.

While you're in court, you have to be respectful at all times. But, you know, what sort of expressions do you make? Where do you look? You know, what do you do? That's the toughest role for a criminal defendant. And it's always difficult, because we see this on Court TV all the time. The accused sits there at the table throughout the whole trial. How are you supposed to look when your innocent? It's really, really tough. And Kobe Bryant, a man who's used to playing in front of hundreds of thousands of people, now just is going to be in a courtroom, many less people, but much more pressure.

COLLINS: But, Vinnie, on that note, what about the public appearances that he's made? He's made two, and the most recent was right here that we're looking at now, the Teen Choice Awards. Not really toning down his image.

POLITAN: Well, his image, I don't think, was ever really that extravagant as a big party guy. But he's there with his wife. So that's important. And what the image is, it's a guy that's going to try to lead his life as well as he can, but, again, that togetherness with his wife is so important because who's been affected more by this whole thing other than the victim, the alleged victim, would be his wife. I mean he's admitted adultery. They just had a baby girl. I mean but she is standing by his side. If she can stand by his side, perhaps down the road 12 jurors can take his side, as well.

COLLINS: All right, so how long until we actually see a trial here?

POLITAN: If things go quickly, we could see something perhaps late winter/early spring. But if things move more slowly, as many people expect, probably about a year.

COLLINS: All right, very good.

Vinnie Politan of Court TV, thanks so much for being with us today.

We appreciate your time this morning.

POLITAN: OK, Heidi.

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 - 08:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now this morning, to Kobe Bryant's first day in court. The NBA star will make a brief appearance later today to hear the sexual assault charge against him.
Vinnie Politan will be covering the hearing for Court TV.

He joins us now this morning from Eagle, Colorado.

Good morning to you, Vinnie.

VINNIE POLITAN, COURT TV: Good morning, Heidi.

COLLINS: This is obviously a big day for the basketball star. Tell us, once again, what is the point of this hearing today?

POLITAN: Well, the point is he's going to hear the charges read against him today, and that's really what it is. It's also significant because we're going to see Kobe Bryant in court for the first time in his new role as a criminal defendant. So it's going to be important for him his appearance in court. Is he going to be there with his wife Vanessa? How is he going to look? What is demeanor going to be like? Because these images are going to be played over and over again to the public. And those 12 jurors who will ultimately make the decision in this case are part of the public and will probably see this image over and over again. So it's really an important day for Kobe Bryant.

COLLINS: Obviously, as we've been talking for several days now, what a huge, huge case this has been for the media, a huge presence there. The day is going to get very, very busy, I'm sure, for you.

Is there anything that Kobe can do now at this point to actually try to tone down that image that you were talking about of himself as a criminal defendant?

POLITAN: Well, I think what he has to do is -- there's a few things you have to do. One, you can't be coming into town, a small town like Eagle, as a prima donna. So you don't want to have that huge entourage. Of course, you're going to need a little bit of security. But don't make that huge splash, because people are going to see that image, as well.

While you're in court, you have to be respectful at all times. But, you know, what sort of expressions do you make? Where do you look? You know, what do you do? That's the toughest role for a criminal defendant. And it's always difficult, because we see this on Court TV all the time. The accused sits there at the table throughout the whole trial. How are you supposed to look when your innocent? It's really, really tough. And Kobe Bryant, a man who's used to playing in front of hundreds of thousands of people, now just is going to be in a courtroom, many less people, but much more pressure.

COLLINS: But, Vinnie, on that note, what about the public appearances that he's made? He's made two, and the most recent was right here that we're looking at now, the Teen Choice Awards. Not really toning down his image.

POLITAN: Well, his image, I don't think, was ever really that extravagant as a big party guy. But he's there with his wife. So that's important. And what the image is, it's a guy that's going to try to lead his life as well as he can, but, again, that togetherness with his wife is so important because who's been affected more by this whole thing other than the victim, the alleged victim, would be his wife. I mean he's admitted adultery. They just had a baby girl. I mean but she is standing by his side. If she can stand by his side, perhaps down the road 12 jurors can take his side, as well.

COLLINS: All right, so how long until we actually see a trial here?

POLITAN: If things go quickly, we could see something perhaps late winter/early spring. But if things move more slowly, as many people expect, probably about a year.

COLLINS: All right, very good.

Vinnie Politan of Court TV, thanks so much for being with us today.

We appreciate your time this morning.

POLITAN: OK, Heidi.

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