Cassius Clay
07-23-2003, 01:01 PM
www.msnbc.com/news/942322...=SA01#BODY (http://www.msnbc.com/news/942322.asp?0cv=SA01#BODY)
Kobe’s accuser ‘bragged’ at party
Alleged victim in good mood days before charges filed, host says; another saw ‘visible evidence’ of attack
NBCSPORTS.COM NEWS SERVICES
EAGLE, Colo., July 22 — The 19-year-old woman who accused Kobe Bryant of sexually assaulting her attended a party just days before charges were filed against Bryant and appeared to be in a good mood and “bragging” about the incident, several teen-agers at the party told NBC News on Tuesday. Another friend told the Associated Press that the woman had “visible evidence” of the alleged attack a week later.
THE ALLEGED VICTIM was at a party three days before the charges were filed and appeared to be in a good mood, NBC News reported, citing five party attendees.
“She was bragging about it,” party host Steve Evancho told NBC News.
The victim described Bryant’s anatomy when asked about it at the party, the host said.
Another friend gave a different impression of the victim, saying she was still “shaken up” by what happened.
Luke Bray declined to be more specific out of respect for his friend and her family.
“There is visible evidence of what happened,” he said.
Eagle County sheriff’s spokeswoman Kim Andree declined comment on NBC’s report and Bray’s statement. Neither prosecutor Mark Hurlbert nor Bryant’s attorneys returned telephone messages seeking comment.
Hurlbert has said he believes he has enough physical and testimonial evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The 24-year-old Bryant was charged with one count of sexually assaulting the concierge at an exclusive mountain resort last month. He said the sex was consensual and that he only committed adultery.
The Los Angeles Lakers star is free on bond pending an Aug. 6 court hearing during which he will be formally advised of the charge against him.
An Eagle County district judge has sealed most documents, including the arrest affidavit, details of the physical evidence and other information. The Denver Post, the Los Angeles Times, NBC and the Vail Daily have asked a district judge to release some of the material.
Bryant’s attorneys filed a 23-page brief objecting to the release of any documents, the Times reported Tuesday. Bryant’s attorneys don’t want any negative information regarding him to be released to the media, fearing it would effect the trial, the Times reported.
Lawyers for the Vail Daily and the alleged victim filed written arguments Tuesday in the newspaper’s request for police reports it believes are related to the woman. Hurlbert may file his own brief, spokeswoman Krista Flannigan said.
The alleged victim is a college student who took a summer job at the Lodge & Spa at the Cordillera in nearby Edwards. Friends say she is an energetic former cheerleader known for her love of music. She once tried out for the television program, “American Idol.”
Bray, 21, said he saw the woman about a week after the alleged assault on June 30. “She was still shaken up. She was pretty much in denial,” he said. “She couldn’t believe it.”
He said the woman was also at his house Friday to watch news conferences where Hurlbert announced the charges and Bryant admitted adultery and apologized to his wife.
“She couldn’t believe that his wife was sitting there and apparently didn’t care about adultery,” Bray said.
Sara Dabner, 17, who sang in the Eagle County High School choir with the woman, asked: “Why would a woman put herself through all of this - having people call her names? I think she just wants to see justice done. She’s not trying to drag him through the dirt.”
The woman was named on Tuesday by a nationally syndicated talk-show host and on the Internet despite pleas for privacy from her family.
Rape counselors and mental health experts were outraged by the exposure of the young Colorado woman, saying that a victim of sexual assault would be further traumatized by public scrutiny.
“That’s like being raped again,” if her accusations against Bryant are true, said Dr. Patricia Saunders, director of Graham Windham Manhattan Medical Center in New York City. “It’s an intrusion. It’s an utter violation of her right to privacy. It’s a sadistic thing to do.”
News organizations, which typically have policies against naming sexual assault victims, have not identified the woman. But her name, address, telephone number and possibly her picture have surfaced on the Internet.
Meanwhile Tom Leykis, host of a radio talk-show based in Los Angeles and aimed mostly at young men, began using her name on the air and told Reuters that he has no plans to stop.
“We’re told that rape is violence, not sex, and if that’s true there’s no reason she should feel shame or embarrassment,” Leykis said, adding that he felt it unfair to name Bryant but not his accuser.
The talk-show host, who is heard on 60 stations across the country, also said he did not believe the woman’s claims. He said he believes the woman was seeking attention and money and that Bryant could be the “real victim” in the case.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Kobe’s accuser ‘bragged’ at party
Alleged victim in good mood days before charges filed, host says; another saw ‘visible evidence’ of attack
NBCSPORTS.COM NEWS SERVICES
EAGLE, Colo., July 22 — The 19-year-old woman who accused Kobe Bryant of sexually assaulting her attended a party just days before charges were filed against Bryant and appeared to be in a good mood and “bragging” about the incident, several teen-agers at the party told NBC News on Tuesday. Another friend told the Associated Press that the woman had “visible evidence” of the alleged attack a week later.
THE ALLEGED VICTIM was at a party three days before the charges were filed and appeared to be in a good mood, NBC News reported, citing five party attendees.
“She was bragging about it,” party host Steve Evancho told NBC News.
The victim described Bryant’s anatomy when asked about it at the party, the host said.
Another friend gave a different impression of the victim, saying she was still “shaken up” by what happened.
Luke Bray declined to be more specific out of respect for his friend and her family.
“There is visible evidence of what happened,” he said.
Eagle County sheriff’s spokeswoman Kim Andree declined comment on NBC’s report and Bray’s statement. Neither prosecutor Mark Hurlbert nor Bryant’s attorneys returned telephone messages seeking comment.
Hurlbert has said he believes he has enough physical and testimonial evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The 24-year-old Bryant was charged with one count of sexually assaulting the concierge at an exclusive mountain resort last month. He said the sex was consensual and that he only committed adultery.
The Los Angeles Lakers star is free on bond pending an Aug. 6 court hearing during which he will be formally advised of the charge against him.
An Eagle County district judge has sealed most documents, including the arrest affidavit, details of the physical evidence and other information. The Denver Post, the Los Angeles Times, NBC and the Vail Daily have asked a district judge to release some of the material.
Bryant’s attorneys filed a 23-page brief objecting to the release of any documents, the Times reported Tuesday. Bryant’s attorneys don’t want any negative information regarding him to be released to the media, fearing it would effect the trial, the Times reported.
Lawyers for the Vail Daily and the alleged victim filed written arguments Tuesday in the newspaper’s request for police reports it believes are related to the woman. Hurlbert may file his own brief, spokeswoman Krista Flannigan said.
The alleged victim is a college student who took a summer job at the Lodge & Spa at the Cordillera in nearby Edwards. Friends say she is an energetic former cheerleader known for her love of music. She once tried out for the television program, “American Idol.”
Bray, 21, said he saw the woman about a week after the alleged assault on June 30. “She was still shaken up. She was pretty much in denial,” he said. “She couldn’t believe it.”
He said the woman was also at his house Friday to watch news conferences where Hurlbert announced the charges and Bryant admitted adultery and apologized to his wife.
“She couldn’t believe that his wife was sitting there and apparently didn’t care about adultery,” Bray said.
Sara Dabner, 17, who sang in the Eagle County High School choir with the woman, asked: “Why would a woman put herself through all of this - having people call her names? I think she just wants to see justice done. She’s not trying to drag him through the dirt.”
The woman was named on Tuesday by a nationally syndicated talk-show host and on the Internet despite pleas for privacy from her family.
Rape counselors and mental health experts were outraged by the exposure of the young Colorado woman, saying that a victim of sexual assault would be further traumatized by public scrutiny.
“That’s like being raped again,” if her accusations against Bryant are true, said Dr. Patricia Saunders, director of Graham Windham Manhattan Medical Center in New York City. “It’s an intrusion. It’s an utter violation of her right to privacy. It’s a sadistic thing to do.”
News organizations, which typically have policies against naming sexual assault victims, have not identified the woman. But her name, address, telephone number and possibly her picture have surfaced on the Internet.
Meanwhile Tom Leykis, host of a radio talk-show based in Los Angeles and aimed mostly at young men, began using her name on the air and told Reuters that he has no plans to stop.
“We’re told that rape is violence, not sex, and if that’s true there’s no reason she should feel shame or embarrassment,” Leykis said, adding that he felt it unfair to name Bryant but not his accuser.
The talk-show host, who is heard on 60 stations across the country, also said he did not believe the woman’s claims. He said he believes the woman was seeking attention and money and that Bryant could be the “real victim” in the case.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.