NEWS: Another Victory for Wealthy Assholes and Their Lawyers

CULTURE: Another Victory for Wealthy Assholes and Their Lawyers

The most anticipated criminal trial since the O.J. Simpson murder trial will not take place.

Today, the Eagle County District Attorney announced he is dropping all charges against Kobe Bryant.

This bombshell announcement comes mere days before opening statements were to be delivered. The Eagle County D.A. stated that Bryant's accuser no longer wished to participate in the trial.

Upon hearing that the case was dropped and that no criminal charges will be refiled, Bryant offered up this "apology".

Anyone following the pre-trial activities would have been appalled at the prosecution's actions. Several details about the victim that were supposed to be protected by rape shield laws (such as her name, medical and sexual histories) were leaked to the press. This both tainted the potential juror pool and embarrassed the plaintiff.

If you believe the accuser's story or not, the pre-trial machinations of the defense team in this case were repugnant and have damaged the potency of the United States' rape shield laws.

(No jumping with links. Akira actually submitted this a couple of hours ago, but I just got online. I edited it as quickly as possible for wire-timeliness. Yes, I just made that word up.).

This is one reason I like the Canadian system, the individual can't just drop the charges, because the suspect is charged by the crown for the crime.

The whole trial was a cockup from the beginning. I don't really even care if he's guilty or innocent. I just naively wanted to see a famous person actually have to go through a non-circus trial. But really... who the hell was I kidding?

That's how it is in America too, at least for criminal trials. The state (or the country) brings charges against the individual, hense "The People of Colorado vs. Kobe Bryant."

In this situation the case was dismissed because the chief prosecution witness (the accuser) refused to go to trial. Without her, the prosecution had no case. The judge had no choice but to throw the case out.

...and their adamant refusal to abide by the "rape shield laws" didn't help. No wonder she didn't want to stand trial. They tore her apart and prevented an impartial jury before she could even get on the stand.

Exactly. I actually got into a shouting match with my best friend about the way the defense did an end run around rape shield laws. Thier entire handeling of this case has disgusted me from day one

I think that once someone has been accused of rape they should just automatically turn in their freedom without question. Obviously they have to be guilty if they are accused. (read sarcasm)
I don't know whether he did it or not, but to assume he did it just because he was accused and he is famous is just as wrong as automatically not believing a woman who has done the accusing.

Fair, Balanced reporting

That, like most things on SG, should be taken with a bit of snark.

I had nothing against Kobe until I read that apology. Fuck that. Fuck him. Fuck Eagle County.

At least the Lakers will suck now.

We report, you decide?

I wasn't there....you weren't there....we don't know what happened and probably never will.

........or maybe, JUST MAYBE MAYBE they simply didnt have enough evidence to convict him....Kobe's an asshole for fucking around on his wife, but the second she (the accused) said she was going after him for damages in civil court, everyone saw dollar signs...INCLUDING THE D.A., and her credibility was totally shot parisambrosia was right....we werent there

....and anyone who would judge a man who never even went to trial for a crime can go lesberate in the corner

exactly.

the thing that bothers me: she's going to have to testify in civil court if she wants the money. Refusing to testify in criminal court but being willing to testify in civil court is so incredibly shady. If I were Kobe, I would call her bluff and go through with the civil trial...the civil trial protects her history less than the criminal trial does...but they will probably settle out of court and Kobe will make her a rich girl.

I used to want to see Kobe locked up for this, since I have a ton of sympathy for rape victims, but she hasn't exactly had the proper behavior in certain circumstances. Let's just say that I think she didn't exactly seem regretful.

i don't presume to know if kobe bryant is guilty, but it's infuriating how the rape shield laws have been treated like they do not exist.
feminism hasn't come as far as we think. in 2004, an alledged rape victim can still have her sexual history presented in court, as if it matters. as if her sexuality makes the rape her fault.
this is outrageous.

Because we all know every woman who's actually been raped acts exactly the same way.

What mattered was how she acted in the day or two after the alledged incident. That is relevant. It goes to state of mind. I've had to testify for the defense at a rape trial before for a coworker that was falsely accused. she acted like nothing was wrong not more then 90 mins after the incident.

His guilt or innocence aside, she could have been a complete skank beforehand and not done what she did in the hours following and he would have gone to jail. I was undecided until she filed suit. Now two words FORTUNE HUNTER

[Edited on Sep 02, 2004 by FermatsEnigma]

Of course. Didn't you know that every rape victim gets a pamphlet telling them exactly how they need to act after the rape? All rape victims always act exactly the same after the event. Duh.

Seriously though, whenever I hear people make the argument that "she didn't act like she was raped" I tend to ignore anything else they say, lest my anger take over.

god damn right

and Kobe's dumb for getting married if he likes to fuck around
if ya like to fuck around, DON'T GET MARRIED

I grew up around a battered womens' shelter. I have seen more shit than I care to admit. I have seen the after effects of rape. I have seen the whole gambit, from denial to waiting for the gunshop to open. I have a hard time believing after witnessing the emotional trauma brought on by something like this that a woman is going to be in the type of mshape to have sex with another guy.

i would have like to see a trial. i don't believe she was raped, and i hate the man. having been a witness of the defense in a case, i know how some girls realize (or feel) they made a mistake and then fabricate a story to reationalize it. a college roommate of mine was accused by a girl whom came home with us from a bar, went to his room willingly and amorously. i was then repeatedly woke up by loud sex and laughter. she left with a smile and a kiss. only later did she go with her boyfriend to report it.

no one will know if the accuser and the Eagle Cnty DA saw the dollar signs of a big pro athlete. leave Kobe alone, let him deal with his wife, leave the girl alone, she has a lot to think about.

keep your eye out to what happens in the civil case. does that make her a whore if he must pay for sex?

Living in the LA area, I've been hearing about this case at every twist and turn.

Koby's attorney actually specializes in defending professional athletes accused of rape. She pulled out all of the stops. She violated orders by the judge not to use the victim's name in court in pretrial, and did everything she could to put the victim on trial. She successfully filed motions to put every aspect of the victim's life on trial. The judge gave her free reign to characterize the victim in court as a woman who is a mentally deranged whore.

What we know is that Koby bent her over a chair, buttfucked her, and ripped her open. She was bleeding when he was done. His defense claims is that she liked that kind of treatment. She wanted it.

He says it was consentual, she says it wasn't. His apology is pure crap. That's a statement written for him to try put him in a nicer light after all of the crap the defense has pulled.

The really scary thing is the impact this will have on other rape victims. In After a date rape, a guy can laugh and say, "no one will believe you, look at the Koby Bryant," and she'll wonder whether he is right.