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CNN Live Saturday
Kobe Bryant Charged
Aired July 19, 2003 - 14:15 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.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: So far it is being played out as a case of he said, she said against one of the world's most recognized sports stars. NBA player Kobe Bryant is speaking out after being charged with sexual assault. His nineteen year old accuser, however, is remaining quiet. CNN's Brian Cabell is live from the woman's home town in Eagle, Colorado and brings us to date with the latest information. Good afternoon Brian.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon Sean, it is a very, very quite afternoon here in Eagle, especially compared to the circus like atmosphere we had yesterday when the DA came out and made his announcement. It is likely to remain quiet for the next three weeks here in Eagle until Kobe Bryant returns here for a court date, August 6, he will be informed of his rights, and also of the charge against him.
Kobe Bryant, of course, made a appearance yesterday after the announcement here. He appeared with his wife at a press conference in Los Angeles. He proclaimed his innocents and he also apologized to his wife for his adultery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOBE: I love my wife with all my heart. She is my backbone. You are a blessing. You're beats in my heart. You are the air I breathe. You are the strongest person I know and I'm so sorry for having to put you through this and having to put our family through this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABELL: As for the 19 year old alleged victim in this case she remains in town. She has said nothing publicly. She has been hounded on occasion by the media. Her friends however, have spoken up for her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHANNA SWEENEY: She is hurt. She has been violated. I probably couldn't put words for what she is going through, but she is doing very well for what she is going through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABELL: A number of questions remain out there. Number one, are there any collaborating witness to this event, to this incident about 19 days ago, anybody who can say that force was in fact used. What about the physical evidence? Any thing there to indicate that force was used? And finally what about a change of venue? Will Kobe Bryant and his attorneys ask for a different town to hold this trial and could he get a fair trial here? Those are questions that will be answered in the weeks and months ahead -- Sean.
CALLEBS: OK, Brian Cabell, thanks much for bringing us update, information from Colorado.
Kobe Bryant is of course one of the National Basketball Associations, most popular player and he ranks near the top of the list for endorsements, but it will likely be up fans ultimately to decide his faith.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It definitely seems a little more concrete when it is definitely not a set up, or probably something that is worthy of being taken to court.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I come more from the emotional side. I feel really bad for I guess for his family most particularly his wife.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CALLEBS: And the results on the fan poll on CNNSI.com, 15 percent believe Kobe Bryant will be convicted, while 28 percent say that he will be acquitted at the trial.
Joining us to talk about these new developments in the Kobe Bryant's case and the possible legal implications former federal prosecutor Kendall Coffey. He is our Miami Bureau. Thank you so much for joining us here this Saturday afternoon, Mr. Coffey. I guess you have to get use to this, people are going to be asking you and almost everybody else in the country, what they think about this in the coming days, weeks ahead.
Let's talk about the information we do know from the prosecutor; no eyewitnesses, no witnesses that may have heard noises from a different room. What is this case going to come down to?
KENDALL COFFEY, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Well, if there nothing in the way of physical evidence to show some independent corroboration for a thesis that there was a use of force. Obviously we would be talking about torn clothes, bruising, things that show that some kind of force was used. If there is nothing like that, it is going to come down to credibility. Someone described it as a he said, she said swearing contest. The jury is going to look at the accusing witness, hear her, they are going to see Kobe Bryant on the stand and ultimately they are going to decide who do they believe.
CALLEBS: Tell us about players in terms of the legal stats. We know prosecutor is 34 years old. He hasn't been in office a great deal of time. We can only presume he doesn't have a lot of litigation experience. And we can also presume that Kobe Bryant is going to hire the utmost high profile the best defense attorneys he can get. What is that going to mean? COFFEY: Well what it's going to mean, is that certainly the local prosecutors if it stays in Eagle County is going to play against that. Young guy maybe, but looks sincere, look earnest, obviously has a feel for his community. If it stays there he could be, or somebody on the staff could be pretty effective playing off against whoever the defense team is, saying, hey you can't come in here and violate a woman in our community and then expect to buy your way out of justice by hiring the most expensive talent.
But to be sure this is going to be a very hard fought and well fought case on both sides.
CALLEBS: Mr. Coffey, talk about what we know from Kobe Bryant as well, first basically denying anything to do with this. Then, coming out last night at a news conference with his lawyers. Were you surprised to see him talk?
COFFEY: I was surprised but I thought it was effective. It is a high risk strategy to put the defendant on national television immediately in the aftermath of charges being brought. Not only from the stand point it is emotionally devastating and very few people can get through that with out making some kind of mistake. But the risks are so severe because there is a meaningful misstatement or misstep those kind of comments can and will be used against you. But I thought it was effective. And I think that at least from a public perception standpoint the defense had a good day yesterday.
CALLEBS: Now the 19 year old alleged victim what is it going to be like for her in the coming weeks and months ahead? We can only presume that her entire past is going to be open to investigation, perhaps even speculation, any concern that she is going to be dragged through the mud?
COFFEY: Oh it's a horrible ordeal that awaits her. And one of the things the jury is going to factor into is why would anyone have a motive to lie and put themselves through days, weeks, months, of an incredibly intrusive and in some ways abusive nightmare. Because you got an obvious motive on the part of the defendant to lie in a situation like this, it is going to be very critical for the jury to understand why would some woman lie, why would she put herself through the kind of ordeal that we are describing.
CALLEBS: OK, former Federal Prosecutor Kendall Coffey, thanks very much for joining us from Miami today we appreciate it.
COFFEY: 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 July 19, 2003 - 14:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: So far it is being played out as a case of he said, she said against one of the world's most recognized sports stars. NBA player Kobe Bryant is speaking out after being charged with sexual assault. His nineteen year old accuser, however, is remaining quiet. CNN's Brian Cabell is live from the woman's home town in Eagle, Colorado and brings us to date with the latest information. Good afternoon Brian.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon Sean, it is a very, very quite afternoon here in Eagle, especially compared to the circus like atmosphere we had yesterday when the DA came out and made his announcement. It is likely to remain quiet for the next three weeks here in Eagle until Kobe Bryant returns here for a court date, August 6, he will be informed of his rights, and also of the charge against him.
Kobe Bryant, of course, made a appearance yesterday after the announcement here. He appeared with his wife at a press conference in Los Angeles. He proclaimed his innocents and he also apologized to his wife for his adultery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOBE: I love my wife with all my heart. She is my backbone. You are a blessing. You're beats in my heart. You are the air I breathe. You are the strongest person I know and I'm so sorry for having to put you through this and having to put our family through this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABELL: As for the 19 year old alleged victim in this case she remains in town. She has said nothing publicly. She has been hounded on occasion by the media. Her friends however, have spoken up for her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHANNA SWEENEY: She is hurt. She has been violated. I probably couldn't put words for what she is going through, but she is doing very well for what she is going through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABELL: A number of questions remain out there. Number one, are there any collaborating witness to this event, to this incident about 19 days ago, anybody who can say that force was in fact used. What about the physical evidence? Any thing there to indicate that force was used? And finally what about a change of venue? Will Kobe Bryant and his attorneys ask for a different town to hold this trial and could he get a fair trial here? Those are questions that will be answered in the weeks and months ahead -- Sean.
CALLEBS: OK, Brian Cabell, thanks much for bringing us update, information from Colorado.
Kobe Bryant is of course one of the National Basketball Associations, most popular player and he ranks near the top of the list for endorsements, but it will likely be up fans ultimately to decide his faith.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It definitely seems a little more concrete when it is definitely not a set up, or probably something that is worthy of being taken to court.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I come more from the emotional side. I feel really bad for I guess for his family most particularly his wife.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CALLEBS: And the results on the fan poll on CNNSI.com, 15 percent believe Kobe Bryant will be convicted, while 28 percent say that he will be acquitted at the trial.
Joining us to talk about these new developments in the Kobe Bryant's case and the possible legal implications former federal prosecutor Kendall Coffey. He is our Miami Bureau. Thank you so much for joining us here this Saturday afternoon, Mr. Coffey. I guess you have to get use to this, people are going to be asking you and almost everybody else in the country, what they think about this in the coming days, weeks ahead.
Let's talk about the information we do know from the prosecutor; no eyewitnesses, no witnesses that may have heard noises from a different room. What is this case going to come down to?
KENDALL COFFEY, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Well, if there nothing in the way of physical evidence to show some independent corroboration for a thesis that there was a use of force. Obviously we would be talking about torn clothes, bruising, things that show that some kind of force was used. If there is nothing like that, it is going to come down to credibility. Someone described it as a he said, she said swearing contest. The jury is going to look at the accusing witness, hear her, they are going to see Kobe Bryant on the stand and ultimately they are going to decide who do they believe.
CALLEBS: Tell us about players in terms of the legal stats. We know prosecutor is 34 years old. He hasn't been in office a great deal of time. We can only presume he doesn't have a lot of litigation experience. And we can also presume that Kobe Bryant is going to hire the utmost high profile the best defense attorneys he can get. What is that going to mean? COFFEY: Well what it's going to mean, is that certainly the local prosecutors if it stays in Eagle County is going to play against that. Young guy maybe, but looks sincere, look earnest, obviously has a feel for his community. If it stays there he could be, or somebody on the staff could be pretty effective playing off against whoever the defense team is, saying, hey you can't come in here and violate a woman in our community and then expect to buy your way out of justice by hiring the most expensive talent.
But to be sure this is going to be a very hard fought and well fought case on both sides.
CALLEBS: Mr. Coffey, talk about what we know from Kobe Bryant as well, first basically denying anything to do with this. Then, coming out last night at a news conference with his lawyers. Were you surprised to see him talk?
COFFEY: I was surprised but I thought it was effective. It is a high risk strategy to put the defendant on national television immediately in the aftermath of charges being brought. Not only from the stand point it is emotionally devastating and very few people can get through that with out making some kind of mistake. But the risks are so severe because there is a meaningful misstatement or misstep those kind of comments can and will be used against you. But I thought it was effective. And I think that at least from a public perception standpoint the defense had a good day yesterday.
CALLEBS: Now the 19 year old alleged victim what is it going to be like for her in the coming weeks and months ahead? We can only presume that her entire past is going to be open to investigation, perhaps even speculation, any concern that she is going to be dragged through the mud?
COFFEY: Oh it's a horrible ordeal that awaits her. And one of the things the jury is going to factor into is why would anyone have a motive to lie and put themselves through days, weeks, months, of an incredibly intrusive and in some ways abusive nightmare. Because you got an obvious motive on the part of the defendant to lie in a situation like this, it is going to be very critical for the jury to understand why would some woman lie, why would she put herself through the kind of ordeal that we are describing.
CALLEBS: OK, former Federal Prosecutor Kendall Coffey, thanks very much for joining us from Miami today we appreciate it.
COFFEY: 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
