Bryant's accuser hospitalized last winter in mental health case


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Bryant's accuser hospitalized last winter in mental health case


By STEVE WILSTEIN, AP Sports Writer

EAGLE, Colo. (AP) -- Scrutiny of Kobe Bryant's accuser is intensifying after police said she was hospitalized as a ``danger to herself'' four months before the alleged sexual assault.

A judge, seeking to quell rumors and reports that could affect a trial, later Thursday issued a gag order on attorneys, witness and others involved in the case.

University of Northern Colorado police chief Terry Urista said campus police received a call about 9 p.m. on Feb. 25 regarding a woman in a dormitory room.

An officer determined she was a danger to herself,'' he said. It's classified as a mental health issue.''

The woman was transported by ambulance to North Colorado Medical Center of Greeley, Urista said. He refused to say whether it was a suicide attempt.

Lindsey McKinney, who lived with the woman this spring before the two had a falling out, said her friend tried to kill herself at school this winter and again in May in Eagle. She said the woman tried to overdose on sleeping pills.

Prosecutors and an attorney for Bryant's 19-year-old accuser have declined to discuss details of the case or the background of the woman. Records relating to the case were sealed.

Robert Pugsley, a criminal law professor at Southwestern University in Los Angeles, said if the two incidents turn out to be suicide attempts it could weaken the prosecution's case.

``The more these indications of instability emerge, the more difficult it might prove for the prosecutor to persuade the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that this young woman did not misinterpret the event,'' he said.

Another legal expert said the suicide attempt claims may never be heard at trial.

Christopher Mueller, a law professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder, said judges can exclude evidence that exposes a witness to undue embarrassment if it isn't essential to the charges.

``When there is no connection proven, that argument becomes pretty difficult,'' he said. ``A court may very well bar it.''

Mueller also said the defense will think ``long and hard'' about whether to label Bryant's accuser unstable and suicidal. ``To attack a person who comes into a court as a victim is always a tricky thing,'' he said.

Bryant was charged with felony sexual assault after his accuser told authorities he attacked her at an Edwards resort June 30. Bryant said the sex was consensual.

Meanwhile, Eagle County Judge Fred Gannett issued an order limiting public comment about the case by attorneys, authorities and others involved in the case, including Bryant and any witnesses.

Citing concern about pretrial news coverage, the judge said it was his duty to try to guarantee a fair trial.

``Where the case is a notorious one, that burden on the court is heavy,'' Gannett wrote.

Before the judge's ruling, Eagle County Sheriff Joe Hoy dismissed speculation by at least one of the woman's friends that she is having second thoughts about going forward with the case.

``As far as I've heard, that is just plain rumor,'' Hoy said. ``That is just off-board.''

Prosecutors met with the woman at length at her lawyer's office this week and interviewed other young women at the district attorney's office in Eagle. Friends say the woman is strong enough to withstand the media attention.

Krista Flannigan, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Mark Hurlbert, said the final decision about pursuing the case rests with prosecutors, who represent the public and not just the victim.

``It's not her complaint against him. It's the people of Colorado against him,'' she said.

Prosecutors have sometimes decided to continue cases, including sexual assault and domestic violence ones, without the cooperation of victims, she said.

Hoy, who was accused by defense attorneys of rushing the case against Hurlbert's wishes, also said it was up to the prosecutor whether to go to trial.

``It wouldn't be her choice,'' Hoy said.
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More and more information about this girl is coming to light, whether it happened the way she said or the way Kobe said. This is gonna get messy.
 
I was JUST reading this same story.........

Sounds like the 'rock solid' case the DA said he had, might be beginning to 'chip'........:rolleyes:
 

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I can tell she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer....

Now they are reporting that she's questioning her decision to report the sexual assault(rape). The girl and her family says they didn't know it'd get this much publicity. Is it me, is that family just stupid or do they just act that way....... what did they expect, you're only accusing a NBA Star of rape, an NBA star that has 3 championship rings. Did they expect the WORLD not to cover the story.lol.

I personally think she wanted to prove to her friends she slept with Kobe(eventho Kobe probably told her he'll deny it if she ever told anyone), when her friends didn't believe her and made fun of her for saying that, she cried rape, that's why she waited 12hrs to report it because nobody believe she got boned by Kobe. And her so called " friends" FIVE of them, are telling reporters that she was at a party bragging about it and talking about Kobe's thang, smiling, drinking. Yeah I can tell she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer!

Kobe done messed with a stupid dumb bimbo. I bet he never thought he'd sleep with a crazy,nutty, b**ch.
 
Re: I can tell she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer....

Originally posted by BAYOU TECHE
Now they are reporting that she's questioning her decision to report the sexual assault(rape). The girl and her family says they didn't know it'd get this much publicity. Is it me, is that family just stupid or do they just act that way....... what did they expect, you're only accusing a NBA Star of rape, an NBA star that has 3 championship rings. Did they expect the WORLD not to cover the story.lol.

Yeah, and I'm not buying that crap that the judge says either that he didn't know who Kobe Bryant was.

Kobe done messed with a stupid dumb bimbo. I bet he never thought he'd sleep with a crazy,nutty, b**ch.


Well she is a blonde
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BREAKING: ACCUSER REPORTED BEING RAPED BEFORE

Open records battle waged in court

http://www.vaildaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030717/NEWS/307170102

Randy Wyrick

The towns of Eagle and Vail are shielding public information and they have no legal right to do it, an attorney for the Vail Daily said in a hearing Thursday before Judge Richard Hart.

Attorney Rohn Robbins argued that Eagle and Vail are shielding records that should remain public, under state law. The Vail Daily asked for dispatch records to the address of the woman accusing Los Angeles Laker guard Kobe Bryant of sexual assault.

Robbins asserted Eagle and Vail were overstepping their legal bounds by sealing the records, and that the records were administrative, not part of a criminal proceeding.

Town of Eagle Attorney Ed Sands argued that the records were part of the criminal investigation, and that releasing them would damage the investigation and the alleged victim.

As he was making his arguments, Sands presented a sealed envelope to Hart that he said contained three reports regarding two incidents.

"They're sealed because they have nothing to do with the investigation, but it would do irreparable harm if the documents were revealed," Sands told reporters after the hearing. "They are of a highly sensitive nature. You would understand if the documents were revealed."

That, countered Robbins, is not the law. He said the burden is on the custodian of the records, in this case Eagle and Vail, to explain why the public cannot have access to the records. He said the public should not need to explain why it should have access.

Sands said the Eagle Police Department was not attempting to cover anything up. He said acting Police Chief Gary Ward acted properly when he exercised his jurisdiction in not providing the records.

Sands said Bryant and his attorney will have access to the records in due process.

"Defense attorneys may get everything; the public and press might not," Sands told reporters.

In his closing, Robbins countered that freedom of speech and freedom of the press is not just a large issue, it is THE issue.

No decision was handed down by Judge Richard Hart. Attorneys have until Tuesday to file additional briefs, and until next Friday to answer those briefs.

Daily Managing Editor Don Rogers said the paper sought the records while tracking leads about the case that may or may not prove relevant.

He said the paper would not automatically rush to print the information if it were turned over. Instead the paper would evaluate the reports for their possible connection to the case and whether they fit coverage of the case, he said, as it does with all leads.

"I have a lot of respect for Eagle and Vail's government officials, and I understand their position," Rogers said. "But I don't think they should also serve as editors when the information we seek generally is readily available to the public and they've decided it has no relationship to the specific investigation."
 
Kobe done got himself into a big ol mess...

Originally posted by Jafus (Thinker)
BREAKING: ACCUSER REPORTED BEING RAPED BEFORE



Town of Eagle Attorney Ed Sands argued that the records were part of the criminal investigation, and that releasing them would damage the investigation and the alleged victim.

As he was making his arguments, Sands presented a sealed envelope to Hart that he said contained three reports regarding two incidents.

"They're sealed because they have nothing to do with the investigation, but it would do irreparable harm if the documents were revealed," Sands told reporters after the hearing. "They are of a highly sensitive nature. You would understand if the documents were revealed."

Sands said the Eagle Police Department was not attempting to cover anything up. He said acting Police Chief Gary Ward acted properly when he exercised his jurisdiction in not providing the records.
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Man they are really protecting this girl. Kobe better start doing background checks on girls before he decides to hang out with them, just kidding. I have a feeling Kobe will have a hard time with this case, they seem like they are really trying to get a conviction. I'm glad all this stuff about this girl is comming out. Almost every other day there is something new comming out about this girl. Does she have an active life or what. It's funny hearing about all this stuff being said about her, because i know those racist white folks were ready to say all black guys are criminals, rape white women, chase white women, etc. Now the lil innocent lily white girl is not turning out to be so perfect. And her family wants her friends to stop talkin to the media, damn there must be A LOT of stuff to hide, hmmmm.
 
Originally posted by Jafus (Thinker)
BREAKING: ACCUSER REPORTED BEING RAPED BEFORE

Open records battle waged in court

http://www.vaildaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030717/NEWS/307170102

Randy Wyrick

The towns of Eagle and Vail are shielding public information and they have no legal right to do it, an attorney for the Vail Daily said in a hearing Thursday before Judge Richard Hart.

Attorney Rohn Robbins argued that Eagle and Vail are shielding records that should remain public, under state law. The Vail Daily asked for dispatch records to the address of the woman accusing Los Angeles Laker guard Kobe Bryant of sexual assault.

Robbins asserted Eagle and Vail were overstepping their legal bounds by sealing the records, and that the records were administrative, not part of a criminal proceeding.

Town of Eagle Attorney Ed Sands argued that the records were part of the criminal investigation, and that releasing them would damage the investigation and the alleged victim.

As he was making his arguments, Sands presented a sealed envelope to Hart that he said contained three reports regarding two incidents.

"They're sealed because they have nothing to do with the investigation, but it would do irreparable harm if the documents were revealed," Sands told reporters after the hearing. "They are of a highly sensitive nature. You would understand if the documents were revealed."

That, countered Robbins, is not the law. He said the burden is on the custodian of the records, in this case Eagle and Vail, to explain why the public cannot have access to the records. He said the public should not need to explain why it should have access.

Sands said the Eagle Police Department was not attempting to cover anything up. He said acting Police Chief Gary Ward acted properly when he exercised his jurisdiction in not providing the records.

Sands said Bryant and his attorney will have access to the records in due process.

"Defense attorneys may get everything; the public and press might not," Sands told reporters.

In his closing, Robbins countered that freedom of speech and freedom of the press is not just a large issue, it is THE issue.

No decision was handed down by Judge Richard Hart. Attorneys have until Tuesday to file additional briefs, and until next Friday to answer those briefs.

Daily Managing Editor Don Rogers said the paper sought the records while tracking leads about the case that may or may not prove relevant.

He said the paper would not automatically rush to print the information if it were turned over. Instead the paper would evaluate the reports for their possible connection to the case and whether they fit coverage of the case, he said, as it does with all leads.

"I have a lot of respect for Eagle and Vail's government officials, and I understand their position," Rogers said. "But I don't think they should also serve as editors when the information we seek generally is readily available to the public and they've decided it has no relationship to the specific investigation."
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Jafus done, done it again...checkmate
 
With any kind of legal representation at all,Kobe will walk away from this a free man.There's too much negative stuff coming out on the alleged victim.She's a nut case plain and simple!!!:p
 
Its almost like there tryin to prove a point! all this covering up by Eagle County is really suspect....

her friends prolly want her to split the money with them in exchange for lying for her!
 
Originally posted by The Camera on the Meacfan BB
[QB] July 26, 2003


The Internet Is Reshaping Bryant Story
Web gossip about the athlete and his accuser is driving competition, even among mainstream media. Some outlets retain strict limits.


July 26, 2003

By Bob Baker, Times Staff Writer


A small but telling moment from the Kobe Bryant media frenzy:

Earlier this week, Fox Sports Net's Southern California Sports Report told viewers that a Denver radio station had broadcast an unconfirmed report that Bryant had a previous relationship with his accuser in the Eagle County, Colo., rape case.


The TV picture went to split screen for an analysis by a New York-based legal-affairs expert who twice within half a minute referred to the radio report as "evidence."

Multiply that moment of imprecision and you can appreciate why the news media's handling of the case feels chaotic and contradictory.

Speculation is coursing through the Internet, sometimes making its way onto sports talk radio, where it hardens into fact as a 10-second news update. Competitive pressure between 24-hour cable TV sports and news outlets results in prolonged conjecture about the credibility of Bryant's accuser. Mainstream newspapers, torn between old standards and new fears of losing readers to broadcasters or cyberspace, are split over how much to tell readers about the accuser's past. Even a hallowed media policy ? withholding the names of victims of sexual assault ? is under fire in a few quarters.

Coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial of the mid-'90s conferred newfound respectability on gossip tabloids such as the National Enquirer, which ? while sometimes paying for interviews ? broke stories that TV and daily newspapers felt obligated to follow. The line between tabloid and mainstream journalism has been blurred ever since.

In the Bryant case, the new player is the Internet.

There are about eight times as many North American Internet users ? more than 160 million ? as there were during the Simpson case. Their thirst for immediate information, and the determination of entrepreneurs to profit from it, has led to Web sites such as http://www.freekobe.com , where thousands argue the case and treat rumors about the 19-year-old accuser as though they were fact. (The Web site, which sells "Free Kobe" merchandise, boasts that it is making a financial donation to support "gender equity" in sports.) Sites such as http://www.sexcriminals.com run "Is Kobe Guilty?" polls. ("This is entertainment at its best!" one user e-mailed the site.)

For several days this week, other Web sites attracted considerable attention by publishing purported photographs and the supposed name and e-mail address of Bryant's accuser. Then it turned out the sites had the wrong young woman ? an 18-year-old whose mother said she is an acquaintance of the accuser and has a similar first name and hair color. The family hired a lawyer to demand Web sites stop using the photos.

"The Kobe Bryant case may be a kind of watershed moment for the Internet," said media critic and historian Neal Gabler. "I'm just astonished by it."

Gabler said pressure from the Internet is indirectly responsible for the way a wide variety of characterizations of Bryant's accuser have made their way into the mass media.

"The Internet has no editor, so everything gets out there. Then it gets picked up by talk radio, which also has no filtering system. Then that process puts pressure on more traditional news outlets, like local newspapers, to pick up the story because it's out there and people are talking about it," Gabler said. "These newspapers are in competitive situations. Once they pick it up, there is pressure on more responsible organizations to [make use of] these rumors, if not publish them as fact."

Layers of classic elements ? rich athlete, young woman, small town, mysterious liaison, betrayed wife, shocked parents, the specter of prison ? make the Bryant case irresistible. Numerous tabloid, television and conventional news-media reporters have interviewed young people described as friends of the accuser in an attempt to examine her credibility ? a process that mirrors what Bryant's defense team is expected to try to do in court once the case goes to trial.

However, these stories ? many of which have focused on a single friend's description of the accuser's mood or behavior in recent months ? have painted a contradictory picture. (In an effort to mock these stories, an editorial cartoon in the weekly Vail, Colo., Trail a week ago showed a young woman telling a cluster of TV cameras: "It's from a reliable source. It's from the cousin of a friend whose niece is best friends with an acquaintance of a girl who knew someone in the same class as the victim.")

Times reporters in Colorado have made the same sort of pursuit, but the paper's editors have imposed strict limits on what the paper will publish. The Times has carried no stories attempting to profile the accuser's mood or behavior apart from describing the evening of June 30, when she says Bryant forced her to have sex in his hotel room, where he was staying before undergoing knee surgery. By contrast, two other Southern California daily newspapers, the Daily News and the Orange County Register, have published stories about the accuser's background.

Times Managing Editor Dean Baquet said three considerations have shaped The Times' decisions: First, some of the material "doesn't meet the reporting standard," such as the credibility of some young people who describe themselves as friends of the accuser. Second, the paper has a practice of withholding the name of an alleged sexual-assault victim as well as details of her life that could lead to her being identified. Third, in the Bryant story the paper has decided not to publish facts that are not relevant to the alleged assault, such as the behavior of the accuser.

In the opening weeks of the Simpson murder case in 1994, The Times faced a similar quandary as tabloid and other media swarmed over Los Angeles, producing a wave of fast-breaking stories about Simpson's relationship with his wife and the background of one police detective accused of racism. The newspaper decided it would not allude to claims made by other news media unless they could be independently verified. One example was the widely reported story that police evidence against Simpson included a bloody ski mask, which The Times did not publish ? and which turned out to be untrue.

"Newspapers should be more conservative than they were 10 years ago," Baquet said. "The Internet, the Matt Drudges, Web sites ? people can't tell the difference any more between rumor and fact."

Some Southern California sports talk radio hosts ? largely supportive of Bryant ? have suggested The Times is protecting the accuser by not publishing stories that might tend to question her veracity. Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Washington-based Project for Excellence in Journalism and a former Times media reporter, said the newspaper would benefit from explaining its position. "One of the things we know from a lot of polling we have done is that people usually don't understand the motives behind the decisions that journalists make. They think we do it simply to sell more newspapers."

Gregory Moore, editor of the Denver Post, which has published numerous characterizations of the accuser by her friends, said his paper has "a more expansive view" of what is publishable than The Times. "Just as we've reported aggressively about Kobe, we want to give readers reasonable information about the accuser She filed a rape charge against a very prominent person; that person's life is open to scrutiny and, to a certain degree, hers is, too."

In a radio ratings stunt, Los Angeles-based talk-show host Tom Leykis talked about the accuser ? using her real name ? this week, arguing that she deserved no more privacy than Bryant. Leykis, who builds his talk show around the premise that men are under feminist siege, said the identification came from telephoning friends of the accuser quoted in newspaper reports. "The minute you tell people we have to protect the accuser, it implies guilt on the part of the accused," Leykis said. "It implies that there is a victim when in fact we don't know that yet."

Leykis' actions offended many editors and rape-victim advocates. But a day later, Geneva Overholser, a former ombudsman of the Washington Post, said it was time for newspapers to begin covering rape victims like other crime victims.

For decades, journalists have followed the urging of victims and counselors who contend there is a stigma to being named as a rape victim. But Overholser, writing on a journalism Web site, suggested that practice has "prolonged the stigma And I wonder if shielding the accuser does not inflame still further the cruel search for dirt about her."

It is hypocritical, Overholser said in an interview, to "pride ourselves on not naming rape victims and then smear them in a newspaper and claim we're protecting them."

Times editor Baquet said naming victims would be a wrongheaded attempt to change society's attitude toward rape, which is not a newspaper's job. Overholser said the original decision to suppress rape victims' names was itself a wrongheaded attempt at social engineering that should be reversed.

The Times has departed from its policy on rare occasions when rape victims decided to come forward by name. Last year, for example, the newspaper did not identify two teenage girls who survived a sexual assault by an armed man in Lancaster, but published their names once they told their stories on television.

Overholser, who now teaches journalism at the University of Missouri, first attracted attention on the issue in 1990 when, as editor of the Des Moines Register, she campaigned against secrecy in rape cases with a five-part, Pulitzer Prize-winning series on one woman's ordeal. Then, critical mass on the issue was not in sight, she said. "But the season is now."

If you want other stories on this topic, search the Archives at latimes.com/archives. [/QB]
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