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Kobe Bryant's Lawyers Say Accuser Received Over $17K
Kobe Bryant's defense team says the woman accusing him of rape has received more than $17,000 from a victims' compensation fund in what it calls a rich incentive to pursue a false claim against the NBA star, according to a court transcript released Thursday.
The 20-year-old woman would be ineligible for at least $17,000 she has already received if she lied about the alleged rape, defense attorney Pamela Mackey argued in a June 21 hearing. She said the woman would have to reimburse the fund if lies were discovered -- even more incentive to go forward with the case.
Mackey said the compensation records should be admitted as evidence because they show the accuser had a financial interest in continuing her participation in the case.
"(The accuser) has profited to an enormous amount, $20,000, I would suspect to most people in this county is a lot of money, most of our jurors, and she has done that on the basis of a false allegation and has persisted in that false allegation," she said.
It was unclear whether the compensation information will be allowed as evidence. District Judge Terry Ruckriegle released the partial transcript along with a sealed ruling on use of the material.
The judge released the transcript of the closed-door hearing after being pressured by the Colorado Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to settle a First Amendment fight. A transcript of closed hearings on June 21-22 were mistakenly e-mailed to seven media organizations, which held off on publishing the contents while they challenged a contempt of court threat from the judge.
Prosecution spokeswoman Krista Flannigan declined to comment on Mackey's arguments, but said the accuser remains determined to go forward with the case.
"Her resolve has not changed," she said.
Bryant has pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault, saying he had consensual sex with the then-19-year-old employee of the Vail-area resort where he stayed last summer. If convicted, the Los Angeles Lakers star faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation, and a fine up to $750,000.
Source: AP
The 20-year-old woman would be ineligible for at least $17,000 she has already received if she lied about the alleged rape, defense attorney Pamela Mackey argued in a June 21 hearing. She said the woman would have to reimburse the fund if lies were discovered -- even more incentive to go forward with the case.
Mackey said the compensation records should be admitted as evidence because they show the accuser had a financial interest in continuing her participation in the case.
"(The accuser) has profited to an enormous amount, $20,000, I would suspect to most people in this county is a lot of money, most of our jurors, and she has done that on the basis of a false allegation and has persisted in that false allegation," she said.
It was unclear whether the compensation information will be allowed as evidence. District Judge Terry Ruckriegle released the partial transcript along with a sealed ruling on use of the material.
The judge released the transcript of the closed-door hearing after being pressured by the Colorado Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to settle a First Amendment fight. A transcript of closed hearings on June 21-22 were mistakenly e-mailed to seven media organizations, which held off on publishing the contents while they challenged a contempt of court threat from the judge.
Prosecution spokeswoman Krista Flannigan declined to comment on Mackey's arguments, but said the accuser remains determined to go forward with the case.
"Her resolve has not changed," she said.
Bryant has pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault, saying he had consensual sex with the then-19-year-old employee of the Vail-area resort where he stayed last summer. If convicted, the Los Angeles Lakers star faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation, and a fine up to $750,000.
Source: AP