Kobe Bryant | Forums

[XyZspineZyX]

Kobe has just been charged with a class three felony of sexual assault (rape; penetration by force) by the Eagle County District Attorney in Colorado. Apparently, if convicted and sentenced his jail term could be anywhere from four years to life, or possibly probation for twenty years to life. He would also have to register as a sexual predator regardless of his sentence if found guilty.

He is denying that he raped anyone and has already admitted today that he simply engaged in adultery with the women in question. Ultimately, I suppose this is going to be a credibility battle of whether it was consensual sex or not, or as some would put it "he said she said".

Anyway, I was wondering what you ladies and gentlemen think about this particular case. Although, the prosecutor sounded pretty confident with charging Kobe after reviewing testimony/evidence, I personally will have a wait and see attitude until more information is available. As we know sexual assault cases can be very complicated, especially when a wealthy celebrity is involved.

[XyZspineZyX]

Kobe has just been charged with a class three felony of sexual assault (rape; penetration by force) by the Eagle County District Attorney in Colorado. Apparently, if convicted and sentenced his jail term could be anywhere from four years to life, or possibly probation for twenty years to life. He would also have to register as a sexual predator regardless of his sentence if found guilty.

He is denying that he raped anyone and has already admitted today that he simply engaged in adultery with the women in question. Ultimately, I suppose this is going to be a credibility battle of whether it was consensual sex or not, or as some would put it "he said she said".

Anyway, I was wondering what you ladies and gentlemen think about this particular case. Although, the prosecutor sounded pretty confident with charging Kobe after reviewing testimony/evidence, I personally will have a wait and see attitude until more information is available. As we know sexual assault cases can be very complicated, especially when a wealthy celebrity is involved.

[XyZspineZyX]

V3-Dev wrote:
-
- Anyway, I was wondering what you ladies and
- gentlemen think about this particular case.
- Although, the prosecutor sounded pretty confident
- with charging Kobe after reviewing
- testimony/evidence, I personally will have a wait
- and see attitude until more information is
- available. As we know sexual assault cases can be
- very complicated, especially when a wealthy
- celebrity is involved.

Don't you think its a little early for us to debate or even comment on this case?
-
-



<center>


If I want your Opinion I'll beat it out of you.

[XyZspineZyX]

Well Hornet, although I stated I will have a wait and see attitude until more information is available, news organizations in addition to thousands of Americans across the country apparently are already commenting on this case.

Therefore, I felt as though some of you may have something to say about it. At any rate, if you or anybody else shows no interest in this case, or has no comment on the matter at this time that is fine by me. I was merely curious.

[XyZspineZyX]

Lock him up. Lakers are already too good, and now they are getting Gary Payton and Karl Malone.

<table style="filter:glow[color=green, strength=5)"><FONT SIZE=6 FACE=VERDANA COLOR=YELLOW>Turtle</font></table>
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots"

[XyZspineZyX]

Yeah, many people are thinking the same thing Turtle. Personally however, I would not mind seeing the San Antonio Spurs get smashed by the Lakers this upcoming season, and with Kobe around in addition to Shaq, Malone, and Payton the probability of that would me more likely.

[XyZspineZyX]

The main reason why I like the Lakers is because I live in the LA area and I'm a bit unfamilar with the other teams, but the SA and NJ were impressing when I saw them play.

I remember when a woman accused Dennis Rodman of rape, but it didn't generate as much media frezzy and Dennis got out clean. It wasn't as shocking because Rodman already established reputation as a troublemaker.

[XyZspineZyX]

It is hard to form an opinion on the issue without having all the information the DA has. It is so hard to get a conviction in a sexual assault case, and given Kobe's money (= good lawyers), I'd put money on him not being convicted. As you said, it will essentially come down to a he-said/she-said, which makes guilt beyond reasonable doubt difficult to prove. However, a few things jump out at me:

1) She went to the police very shortly after the incident. That is HUGE. Rape kits can be done within 48 hours in most cases, but the earlier the better.

2) From the little bits of information about her behavior at present, she seems to respond exactly as an actually sexual assault survivor would. But then again, I don't trust the media any further than I could throw it, and her behavior could be staged.

3) The DA double and triple checked the physical evidence - and I'm pretty sure its got his DNA all over it. If she sustained physical injuries, that is the best bet for convincing a jury that it was not consentual. However, Kobe's team could always resort to the, "So it was rough sex, some people like that" defense.

4) 60-80% of all sexual assaults involve alcohol, which also makes them VERY difficult to try successfully.

So in the end, its going to be a hard case to prove, unfortunately. Sexual assault sucks.

A couple sexual assault myths already abound regarding this case, which also sucks. I've read numerous opinion articles in respected newspapers alluding to the "vengeful women" myth, that women will cry rape to get back at somebody. Statistically incorrect - the rate of false accusation for sexual assault is no different than that of other felonies; secondly, it is also hard to imagine that this girl would have a major bone to pick with Kobe after meeting him that afternoon.

I've also seen the "she's after his money" line bandied about, which is potentially valid, but if she really is after the money, she is the dumbest person in the world. Sexual assault has an extremely low conviction rate, and in order for her to get any money, she'd have to prove an assault took place first. Given Kobe's legal team, that is one braindead attempt. More importantly, the stigma on sexual assault victims is SO strong in our society that you'd need one hell of a compelling reason to willingly expose yourself like that.

So the question is: why would she make a false accusation? Personally, I can't find a valid reason, and given her quick action in going to the police, she didn't need to think much about it to realize that something bad went down. That would indicate to me that it was a pretty bad assault, but again, only two people know at this point.

The media attention on her is the thing that upsets me most about this case. They need to leave her alone, period. They don't know she isn't a sexual assault victim, so they need to treat her as if she is and get their news vans out of her driveway.

UbiSoft/RSE Forum Moderator
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pope@theheap.net

Message Edited on 07/19/0311:41AM by Pope

[XyZspineZyX]

That was a very informative reply Pope. What is your take on all these stories already circulating in reference to the alleged victim's mental state? For instance, apparently she is known to be emotionally unstable, and has been given psychiatric counseling in the past, which could possibly explain her sudden change in heart from the sex with Kobe being consensual to nonconsensual.

Also, some people familiar with her have also asserted she very recently broke up with her boyfriend, and in an effort to get back at him was readily engaging in sexual activity with different male individuals. Could this be the reason (other then the fact he is a celebrity) as to why she was alone with Kobe in his hotel room that evening to begin with? Then maybe after having consensual sex with him she merely broke down emotionally as she has done in the past?

As far as witnesses are concerned, I am sure the victim's co-workers or other hotel occupants may have something to say in favor of the prosecution. However, all this talk of Kobe's bodyguards providing evidence against him I think is a long shot. I say this because if they had really provided any damning testimony to the District Attorney's office it would not have taken this long to charge him.

Ultimately, I suppose these are just rumors, and people (including myself) are just speculating due to the lack of any real information. One thing is for certain though, the alleged victim better be prepared because Kobe's defense team is going to really assassinate her character from day one of the trial. I also foresee a huge smear campaign coming soon in an effort to pollute the jury pool in favor of Kobe, which in my opinion is very unfortunate for the victim and her family if a rape did in fact occur.

[XyZspineZyX]

V3-Dev wrote:
- That was a very informative reply Pope. What is your
- take on all these stories already circulating in
- reference to the alleged victim's mental state? For
- instance, apparently she is known to be emotionally
- unstable, and has been given psychiatric counseling
- in the past, which could possibly explain her sudden
- change in heart from the sex with Kobe being
- consensual to nonconsensual.

I've heard that in recent months she was dealing with a death of someone close to her and a breakup. Depression and grief - some estimates run as high as one in three Americans suffer from or have suffered from clinical depression at some point, and everyone goes through periods of grief. I don't think many of those people decide to make rape allegations for the hell of it.

I think what it boils down to in my mind is this: fragile psyches do not make rape allegations. Or fake accusations. In the case of a legitimate assault, it takes an incredibly strong person to even report it to police, let alone go through to trial. I can go into the mental state of a recent victim if you want, it isn't a fun topic. If she were fragile and unstable, I seriously doubt she would have had the resolve to take this to the cops hours after it happened. In my experience, the most fragile assault victims either don't tell anyone for years or immediately break down to someone close to them, but rarely ever take it to a stranger (the cops).

If it is fake and she made it because she was in a stupid state of mind, it is unlikely that she would have continued to press for an indictment. If she doesn't agree to testify, there is no trial, and all she had to do was back out in these past two weeks.

An emotionally unstable person, either making a legitimate allegation or a fake one, strikes me as the type that wouldn't have been able to withstand the media pressure in these past two weeks.


- Also, some people familiar with her have also
- asserted she very recently broke up with her
- boyfriend, and in an effort to get back at him was
- readily engaging in sexual activity with different
- male individuals. Could this be the reason (other
- then the fact he is a celebrity) as to why she was
- alone with Kobe in his hotel room that evening to
- begin with? Then maybe after having consensual sex
- with him she merely broke down emotionally as she
- has done in the past?

It is definately possible. Though I find it unlikely; most people don't "break down" and go to the police, who are strangers, with something that is very personal. Let alone something that is sure to start a media hellstorm. If they have consentual sex with someone and then later feel guilty about it (the cliqued "regretful sex"), it is possible that they would make such a claim to friends or even family, in order to make themselves feel less guilt. But going to the cops? I don't buy it.

This scenario is also possible, I believe: there were reports that she checked Kobe into the hotel, and that some flirting ensued. He might have invited her up to his room to hang out or party later that night, alcohol might have been consumed, Kobe started getting a little too personal. With sexual assault when alcohol is involved, three things commonly happen: 1) the aggressor misreads the victim's intentions. Body language, tone, conversation can all be misconstrued to paint a picture of someone who is sexually interested in the aggressor, when in actuality the victim is not putting out any signs. 2) The victim's response to advancement is delayed. The victim may respond more slowly or incorrectly, misjudging the severity of the situation until it is too late. 3) Obviously, alcohol lowers the inhibitions and can lead to violent and aggressive behavior that goes unchecked.

So maybe she dropped a few hints, had a few drinks, etc. There might have even been some consentual sexual contact, but Kobe took it a step further without her consent, and she resisted. Or maybe she dropped no hints and it was a pure assault from the beginning. Anything now is pure speculation.


- As far as witnesses are concerned, I am sure the
- victim's co-workers or other hotel occupants may
- have something to say in favor of the prosecution.
- However, all this talk of Kobe's bodyguards
- providing evidence against him I think is a long
- shot. I say this because if they had really provided
- any damning testimony to the District Attorney's
- office it would not have taken this long to charge
- him.

Yeah, perhaps. They might have just wanted to get the physical evidence back before they made their final decision. Media attention like this ends careers if things are handled improperly. I don't know if the bodyguards will testify against Kobe, my guess is they will just claim ignorance.


- Ultimately, I suppose these are just rumors, and
- people (including myself) are just speculating due
- to the lack of any real information. One thing is
- for certain though, the alleged victim better be
- prepared because Kobe's defense team is going to
- really assassinate her character from day one of the
- trial. I also foresee a huge smear campaign coming
- soon in an effort to pollute the jury pool in favor
- of Kobe, which in my opinion is very unfortunate for
- the victim and her family if a rape did in fact
- occur.

Yep. They are going to dig up all this supposed emotional instability and flaunt it in front of a jury. Maybe get a psychologist to sit up there and say that when people are depressed, they do things they wouldn't normally do. Juries are stupid, and sexual assault dealings can be extremely counter-intuitive. They will exploit that heavily.

Again, the only thing that will really help the defense is well-documented physical trauma - bruising, cuts, scrapes, skin under fingernails, etc. It sucks, but that might be the only chance to nail down a conviction.


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