Because half the world does it means it's ok? I'm not trying to be moral here. Lord knows that according to a lot of people, I'm not. But Kobe is accused of RAPING a girl. SEXUAL ASSAULT. I don't understand how you can pretend that nothing happened.
Thats the thing im not pretending nothing happen... And im not saying that if half of the world does it, its okay... But yall are litering accusing him, he still hasnt had a fair trial yet he already raped the girl in everyone minds.. Its not fair that he gets that... cuz lots of ppl in this world does stuff like this, sometimes even within the family but you gotta learn how to forgive cuz if you surely did it you would want to be forgiven.
Does anybody else wonder why the prosecution is even bothering? They're not going to win. 1. There's not a "smoking gun" piece of evidence. 2. At best, the physical evidence will allow for either rough sex or rape. There's no way of getting over the "reasonable doubt" threshold there. I mean, otherwise, every time after a couple had rough sex in a random encounter... the woman could cry rape and put the guy in jail. 3. His lawyers are going to be good. This is the type of thing where, for the prosecution to win, they're going to have to sell it to the jury. I don't care how good they are - Kobe's lawyers are going to be better. And he's handsome, rich, charismatic... and will be perfectly rehearsed for testimony if he takes the stand. 4. The victim is apparently a screwball. While that probably won't come in... it might... and it prevents the prosecution from getting into certain character evidence arguments for fear of opening the door to Kobe's lawyers slamming her. The case is a loser. The prosecutor must be a glory hunter. I have no opinion on whether he actually did it... but no way you get 12 to convict.
Haven, I don't think the prosecution is already a lost cause. Assuming what we've heard so far is fairly accurate, their case sounds plausible -- enough at least to have a trial. SavethePigg, I agree with you. We should forgive him. That doesn't mean we can't also throw his ass in jail though. If you commit a crime you should go to jail. But, the constant reproach by people uninvolved in the whole thing is a bit hard-hearted.
Yes, their case sounds plausible. Absolutely! In fact, I think from what I've heard I'd even lean towards the "he probably did it side." But unless they secretly have a video tape... there's no way they get past reasonable doubt. We're not talking about a civil trial here. You honestly think, absent the sort of smoking gun that any jury is going to convict Bryant? The last part of your statement interests me a bit. "Enough at least to have a trial" - do you see a point in a trial that the prosecution can't win? I see it as a waste of money and publicity hunting by a prosecutor.
the colorado district court made a stupid puckuf this morning when they released kobe's accusers name and address on an online legal document and forgot to take it out. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/kobename1.html
I mean they have a chance to win. They might lose, they might win; you won't know until they sit a jury down to hear the testimony. Sounds to me like it is worth a shot. I don't see reasonable doubt being the obstacle you seem to see it as. Not trying sounds disastrous: 1. You tell rape victims you won't try to protect them. 2. You tell celebrities they are above the law and they can behave as they like. 3. You tell the locals money is more important than justice. 4. You admit the whole justice system is inherently flawed because local prosecutors don't have a prayer against big-dollar defense lawyers. 5. It tells the world that you think the girl is probably just lying and Bryant is innocent. 6. It kills any possibility that the girl can pursue justice in the civil courts. Besides, it is not as if being acquitted at trial is of no cost to the defendant. That sucks if he's innocent. But, if he's guilty and will get away with it, he still has to pay his big-shot lawyers, have his reputation ruined by the testimony, have half the people in the country he's guilty anyway, and be subject to a civil suit. If OJ Simpson was guilty (which I'm personally not convinced of), isn't it some small solace that most people think he is guilty, that his reputation is tarnished and that a civil suit put the hurt on him? If it wasn't for the failed prosecution, he'd be living his life now as if nothing had happened (again, it sucks if he was innocent).
This actually came up briefly in my Evidence class today at law school. My prof, a real expert, said there was minimal chance of anything but a Kobe acquittal. Said it wouldn't be close. Could be wrong, of course. But it still made me feel good about my own opinion .
