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Rape Case Against Kobe Bryant Playing Out Like a Hollywood Movie
Aired September 19, 2003 - 15:33 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The rape case against Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant playing out like a Hollywood movie. Police say this bodybuilder offered to solve Bryant's problem and kill his accuser for $3 million.
For more on this latest development, we turn now to CNN's law enforcement correspondent Mike Brooks.
Mike, is it for real, the offer? Was he just trying to scam some money out of Kobe Bryant perhaps?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the sheriff's department has told me that they think he was acting alone. He said he was part, he was involved possibly with the Russian Mafia, but by them saying he acted alone, I think that kind of negates that theory.
But, you know, what his actual motive was, it looks like it was money. Earlier today, the Los Angeles Police County Sheriff actually said that he was convicted and was arrested for fraud in Switzerland, and that he is a conman. So if that was the motive behind it, we don't know. They're also looking into the fact to see if he actually went to Colorado or not and has any links there. Right now, they don't believe so. That's what they were telling me earlier today.
O'BRIEN: All right, things moved kind of quickly once this letter became know to execute this sting operation. Why don't you walk us through the events.
BROOKS: September 8th, it was received in normal fan mail. His staff and his security people go through all the mail. they Saw this, what was contained in this letter, and the sheriff's department said that they moved quickly, gave it to the sheriff's office. They set up the sting operation, met three times with this person, and actually met him, set up, and he was supposed to get the first installment in the money. I say, as a former investigator, they moved very quickly and did a very fast job of arresting him.
O'BRIEN: And what sorts of charges might he face?
BROOKS: He is going to be arraigned on Monday, and he was charged with suspicion of solicitation to commit murder, basically murder for hire, if you will.
O'BRIEN: All right. CNN's Mike Brooks, we'll watch this one and see how this all pans out.
BROOKS: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: 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
Movie>
Aired September 19, 2003 - 15:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The rape case against Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant playing out like a Hollywood movie. Police say this bodybuilder offered to solve Bryant's problem and kill his accuser for $3 million.
For more on this latest development, we turn now to CNN's law enforcement correspondent Mike Brooks.
Mike, is it for real, the offer? Was he just trying to scam some money out of Kobe Bryant perhaps?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the sheriff's department has told me that they think he was acting alone. He said he was part, he was involved possibly with the Russian Mafia, but by them saying he acted alone, I think that kind of negates that theory.
But, you know, what his actual motive was, it looks like it was money. Earlier today, the Los Angeles Police County Sheriff actually said that he was convicted and was arrested for fraud in Switzerland, and that he is a conman. So if that was the motive behind it, we don't know. They're also looking into the fact to see if he actually went to Colorado or not and has any links there. Right now, they don't believe so. That's what they were telling me earlier today.
O'BRIEN: All right, things moved kind of quickly once this letter became know to execute this sting operation. Why don't you walk us through the events.
BROOKS: September 8th, it was received in normal fan mail. His staff and his security people go through all the mail. they Saw this, what was contained in this letter, and the sheriff's department said that they moved quickly, gave it to the sheriff's office. They set up the sting operation, met three times with this person, and actually met him, set up, and he was supposed to get the first installment in the money. I say, as a former investigator, they moved very quickly and did a very fast job of arresting him.
O'BRIEN: And what sorts of charges might he face?
BROOKS: He is going to be arraigned on Monday, and he was charged with suspicion of solicitation to commit murder, basically murder for hire, if you will.
O'BRIEN: All right. CNN's Mike Brooks, we'll watch this one and see how this all pans out.
BROOKS: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: 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
Movie>
