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Judge Decides Whether to Release Kobe Bryant Document
Aired August 21, 2003 - 13:45 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to a story just breaking out of Colorado. As you may have heard here on CNN, just a -- not long ago. We found out -- or we will find out today or tomorrow whether a judge will unseal certain documents in the Kobe Bryant case.
CNN's Gary Tuchman is standing by in Eagle, Colorado, to tell us about -- more about this.
I guess, Gary, what we want to know if indeed these documents are unsealed, will we see, for the first time, statements by the alleged victim in this case?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it's very possible we will.
But here's what's going to happen. The judge has told us he's made his decision. However, he hasn't told us what the decision is. He says he will tell me what the decision is after he informs the prosecution, after he informs Kobe Bryant's defense attorneys. And he says that will happen either later this afternoon or at the very latest, tomorrow morning. But so far, because there's a gag order in this case, there has been no official release of allegations against Kobe Bryant.
If the judge does decide to unseal the court files it would include, we do believe, the arrest warrant, which would detail the prosecution's allegations against the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
Now what's interesting about this case is that prosecutors and defense attorneys are both against this release. They both say it could hurt Kobe Bryant's chance at getting a fair trial. However, news media attorneys say this is public information, it should be released. There are also arguments that because nothing has officially been released, that there have been lots of rumors which hurt Kobe Bryant even more. So that is just some of the arguments.
October 9 is the preliminary hearing in this case. That preliminary hearing -- we will hear details from the prosecution. But we expect to hear very shortly whether these papers will be released. What's important to point out, if the judge does decide to unseal some of the papers -- we may not get them right away because the judge would then give the prosecution and defense attorneys a chance to appeal his decision -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Gary Tuchman live from Colorado. Continue to check in. Thank you. 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 21, 2003 - 13:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to a story just breaking out of Colorado. As you may have heard here on CNN, just a -- not long ago. We found out -- or we will find out today or tomorrow whether a judge will unseal certain documents in the Kobe Bryant case.
CNN's Gary Tuchman is standing by in Eagle, Colorado, to tell us about -- more about this.
I guess, Gary, what we want to know if indeed these documents are unsealed, will we see, for the first time, statements by the alleged victim in this case?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it's very possible we will.
But here's what's going to happen. The judge has told us he's made his decision. However, he hasn't told us what the decision is. He says he will tell me what the decision is after he informs the prosecution, after he informs Kobe Bryant's defense attorneys. And he says that will happen either later this afternoon or at the very latest, tomorrow morning. But so far, because there's a gag order in this case, there has been no official release of allegations against Kobe Bryant.
If the judge does decide to unseal the court files it would include, we do believe, the arrest warrant, which would detail the prosecution's allegations against the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
Now what's interesting about this case is that prosecutors and defense attorneys are both against this release. They both say it could hurt Kobe Bryant's chance at getting a fair trial. However, news media attorneys say this is public information, it should be released. There are also arguments that because nothing has officially been released, that there have been lots of rumors which hurt Kobe Bryant even more. So that is just some of the arguments.
October 9 is the preliminary hearing in this case. That preliminary hearing -- we will hear details from the prosecution. But we expect to hear very shortly whether these papers will be released. What's important to point out, if the judge does decide to unseal some of the papers -- we may not get them right away because the judge would then give the prosecution and defense attorneys a chance to appeal his decision -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Gary Tuchman live from Colorado. Continue to check in. Thank you. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
