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American Morning
Bryant Case
Aired August 04, 2003 - 07:23 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Kobe Bryant will make his first court appearance this week to hear the sexual assault charge against him. Now, this comes just after a public appearance by Bryant over the weekend at the Teen Choice Awards.
Here is our Gary Tuchman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kobe Bryant received a warm welcome this weekend, when he showed up at the taping of the Teen Choice Awards. He also received one of the awards at the California ceremony.
According to "Entertainment Tonight Online," he paraphrased Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in saying, "An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere," which sets up this upcoming juxtaposition: The Teen Choice show will air on television Wednesday, the same day Bryant will be seen on TVs all over the world sitting in court as a sexual assault defendant.
KOBE BRYANT, LOS ANGELES LAKERS: I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent.
TUCHMAN: But if he's found guilty of this charge, the possible sentence is four years to life in prison. At the very least, he would face 20 years probation and have to register as a sex offender for life.
An Eagle County judge will advise Bryant of the charges and his rights, and then most likely set a date for another court hearing, where, for the first time, prosecutors will have to publicly present their evidence.
PAM MACKEY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: No prosecutor should file charges unless the evidence is so strong that the case can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel that after reviewing the evidence, after looking at the evidence, that I can prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.
TUCHMAN: But all the judge will need is probable cause at Bryant's second hearing, a lower legal threshold, which would continue moving this case through the justice system.
(END VIDEOTAPE) Now, on Wednesday, Kobe Bryant's attorneys do have the right to waive that second hearing. Basically they'd be conceding that the case would move quicker through the justice system, but sometimes defense attorneys want to delay the release of potentially embarrassing evidence to the public. On the other hand, if that second hearing is held and the judge decides there is not probable cause, then Kobe Bryant would be free, the case would be over. But that kind of ruling is relatively rare.
Leon -- back to you.
HARRIS: All right, Gary, before we let you go, one quick question about the alleged victim in this case. Will she be at this hearing?
TUCHMAN: Well, she is allowed to attend. It is expect she will not attend. However, there are surprises sometimes. We've been surprised to see Kobe Bryant at that news conference with this wife. We were surprised to see him at the Teen Choice Awards. So, we have to be alert to the possibility of surprises.
HARRIS: There you go. Gary Tuchman reporting live for us this morning. Thanks, Gary.
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 4, 2003 - 07:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Kobe Bryant will make his first court appearance this week to hear the sexual assault charge against him. Now, this comes just after a public appearance by Bryant over the weekend at the Teen Choice Awards.
Here is our Gary Tuchman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kobe Bryant received a warm welcome this weekend, when he showed up at the taping of the Teen Choice Awards. He also received one of the awards at the California ceremony.
According to "Entertainment Tonight Online," he paraphrased Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in saying, "An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere," which sets up this upcoming juxtaposition: The Teen Choice show will air on television Wednesday, the same day Bryant will be seen on TVs all over the world sitting in court as a sexual assault defendant.
KOBE BRYANT, LOS ANGELES LAKERS: I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent.
TUCHMAN: But if he's found guilty of this charge, the possible sentence is four years to life in prison. At the very least, he would face 20 years probation and have to register as a sex offender for life.
An Eagle County judge will advise Bryant of the charges and his rights, and then most likely set a date for another court hearing, where, for the first time, prosecutors will have to publicly present their evidence.
PAM MACKEY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: No prosecutor should file charges unless the evidence is so strong that the case can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel that after reviewing the evidence, after looking at the evidence, that I can prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.
TUCHMAN: But all the judge will need is probable cause at Bryant's second hearing, a lower legal threshold, which would continue moving this case through the justice system.
(END VIDEOTAPE) Now, on Wednesday, Kobe Bryant's attorneys do have the right to waive that second hearing. Basically they'd be conceding that the case would move quicker through the justice system, but sometimes defense attorneys want to delay the release of potentially embarrassing evidence to the public. On the other hand, if that second hearing is held and the judge decides there is not probable cause, then Kobe Bryant would be free, the case would be over. But that kind of ruling is relatively rare.
Leon -- back to you.
HARRIS: All right, Gary, before we let you go, one quick question about the alleged victim in this case. Will she be at this hearing?
TUCHMAN: Well, she is allowed to attend. It is expect she will not attend. However, there are surprises sometimes. We've been surprised to see Kobe Bryant at that news conference with this wife. We were surprised to see him at the Teen Choice Awards. So, we have to be alert to the possibility of surprises.
HARRIS: There you go. Gary Tuchman reporting live for us this morning. Thanks, Gary.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
