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Kobe Bryant's Journey From Basketball Court to Criminal Court;
Aired August 06, 2003 - 15:04 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: As an NBC superstar, Kobe Bryant is used to being in the spotlight. But the media attention he is getting in tiny Eagle, Colorado today is unusually massive and perhaps unsettling. Three hours from now Bryant is scheduled to briefly appear before a judge on sexual assault charges.
CNN's Gary Tuchman looks at Bryant's journey from the basketball court to criminal court.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kobe Bryant originally went to Colorado for knee surgery. He'll return as a criminal defendant.
MARK HURLBERT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: The defendant was charged with one count of sexual assault, a Class 3 felony.
TUCHMAN: On the night of June 30th, the 24-year-old Los Angeles Lakers guard was staying at a luxury hotel the night before the surgery. A 19-year-old hotel employee came to his room and Bryant says he had sex with her.
KOBE BRYANT, BASKETBALL PLAYER: I sit here before you guys embarrassed and ashamed for committing adultery.
TUCHMAN: But Bryant says it was consensual.
PAM MACKEY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: He stands falsely accused; falsely accused of a serious crime, a crime that carries with it the potential of a life sentence.
TUCHMAN: But the district attorney says he has proof beyond a reasonable doubt a crime occurred, which he says includes physical evidence and a credible accuser.
HURLBERT: She's doing OK. She's a strong girl. She is holding up pretty well considering everything.
TUCHMAN: The evidence in this case has been sealed by Judge Frederick Gannett. News media attorneys have argued some of it should be unsealed. The judge tells CNN he will make a ruling on that, but no earlier than the week of August 18th.
As for Bryant, who at 18 became the youngest person to ever play in the NBA, there is every indication he continues to have the support of his wife and many fans. He received sustained cheers this past weekend when he showed up for the taping of the Teen Choice Awards, a program that will air two hours after his court hearing.
(on camera): Defense attorneys have the right today to ask for another hearing within 30 days, a hearing in which prosecutors would be compelled to reveal some of their evidence.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Eagle County, Colorado.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: At the bottom of the hour CNN will be live from Eagle, Colorado, with more on the Bryant case.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Court;>
Aired August 6, 2003 - 15:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: As an NBC superstar, Kobe Bryant is used to being in the spotlight. But the media attention he is getting in tiny Eagle, Colorado today is unusually massive and perhaps unsettling. Three hours from now Bryant is scheduled to briefly appear before a judge on sexual assault charges.
CNN's Gary Tuchman looks at Bryant's journey from the basketball court to criminal court.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kobe Bryant originally went to Colorado for knee surgery. He'll return as a criminal defendant.
MARK HURLBERT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: The defendant was charged with one count of sexual assault, a Class 3 felony.
TUCHMAN: On the night of June 30th, the 24-year-old Los Angeles Lakers guard was staying at a luxury hotel the night before the surgery. A 19-year-old hotel employee came to his room and Bryant says he had sex with her.
KOBE BRYANT, BASKETBALL PLAYER: I sit here before you guys embarrassed and ashamed for committing adultery.
TUCHMAN: But Bryant says it was consensual.
PAM MACKEY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: He stands falsely accused; falsely accused of a serious crime, a crime that carries with it the potential of a life sentence.
TUCHMAN: But the district attorney says he has proof beyond a reasonable doubt a crime occurred, which he says includes physical evidence and a credible accuser.
HURLBERT: She's doing OK. She's a strong girl. She is holding up pretty well considering everything.
TUCHMAN: The evidence in this case has been sealed by Judge Frederick Gannett. News media attorneys have argued some of it should be unsealed. The judge tells CNN he will make a ruling on that, but no earlier than the week of August 18th.
As for Bryant, who at 18 became the youngest person to ever play in the NBA, there is every indication he continues to have the support of his wife and many fans. He received sustained cheers this past weekend when he showed up for the taping of the Teen Choice Awards, a program that will air two hours after his court hearing.
(on camera): Defense attorneys have the right today to ask for another hearing within 30 days, a hearing in which prosecutors would be compelled to reveal some of their evidence.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Eagle County, Colorado.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: At the bottom of the hour CNN will be live from Eagle, Colorado, with more on the Bryant case.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Court;>
