Kobe Bryant will soon be on trial for rape in Eagle County, Colorado, unless the defense can get the trial moved. There will be several factors in this case outside of the simple facts of whether or not the sexual intercourse was consensual. I don’t think that there will be any debate as to whether or not the sex happened, seeing as Kobe already admitted to committing adultery with the alleged victim.
This case will also hinge on whether or not a “fair” trial can be had in Eagle County, Colorado, or anywhere else for that matter. Kobe Bryant is one of the most recognized people in the U.S. because of the celebrity he has gained as a basketball player. Celebrity carries with it preconceived notions about the character of the accused. The alleged victim does not have this kind of celebrity and therefore does not have the advantage, or disadvantage, of preconcieved notions following her around. Of course by the time that this case comes to trial we will know more about her than we need to know. Does this constitute bias one way or another? I let the lawyers debate that one.
Also interesting in this case will be the demographics of Eagle County, and by extension the jury. Now I know nothing about Eagle County other than what I read or heard but I do know that there is a very small population of African-Americans (.2%). Now we are not talking about the Jim Crow era but racism still exists. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the course of the trial.
Just some things to keep in mind as this develops.
Posted by bhuffine at July 21, 2003 09:45 AM | TrackBackMan, he's innocent. We dont' live in an era where the average woman is so high and pure that she wont hookup with a superstar celebrity.
Posted by: at July 21, 2003 11:02 AMInnocent being a relative term of course. He DID commit adultery after all. The truth of the matter is -- if he hadn't been thinking with "little Kobe," he wouldn't be in this mess.
Posted by: at July 21, 2003 04:54 PMThis article puts some interesting perspective on what might have happened if the girl accusing Kobe might be telling the truth:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/phil_taylor/news/2003/07/21/hot_button
Who's little Kobe? Is that like that wooden penny hardaway guy with the voice of Chris Rock from those commercials a long time ago?
Posted by: at July 21, 2003 06:33 PMThe racial makeup of the jury will not be as important as the idea that you have a celebrity tyep with a "small town" girl ("those LA types just think that they can just come to our small town and so what they want"). The class issue is much more important in that sense. People's resentement of the rich transcends race. For those that look for racism under every rock often confuse race issues with issues of class. The Al Sharptons of the world will make this solely an issue of race for sure. This is could end up like a another OJ trial but I suspect that perhaps the sex was consenual. But we'll just have to wait and see.
Posted by: at July 22, 2003 10:37 PMI think there is th opportunity for racial inequality. Regardless of what other politicians fight for, and what the "present day status" of racial "equality" is I still tend to think that there is no way in Colorado Kobe Bryant will get a fair trial. It definitely will not be a jury of his peers, at least not peers that look like him.
As for classism, there is truth to that too. I don't know much about the area but it sounds like a fairly affluent area (purely based on the fact that there is a resort and multiple hotels...we all have played Monopoly). I would tend to think that people will be driven by the fact that money can be gotten from a celebrity and will let that cloud their minds. Just my opinion.
Here is another wrench in the story...if Kobe settles out of court (which would probabl be for millions) and his wife divorces him, there is no pre nup and she will also get paid (rightfully so in my opinion). All because of little Kobe. :-)
Posted by: at July 23, 2003 12:32 PMMan, I miss Little Penny. He was cool. Annoying, but cool.
Posted by: at July 23, 2003 05:21 PMFor more Little Penny fun check out this site. Apparently there are some that love Little Penny more than the rest of us.
Posted by: at July 28, 2003 01:03 PM