Posted by Rich DeLeo
on 11/13/2003, 11:11 am
Board Administrator
One of the basic foundations in this country is when you are on trial for a crime, you are entitled to a trial by a jury of your peers that is supposed to be impartial. Meaning, that the jury is not supposed to have any knowledge of the trial, or heard any pre-trial publicity surrounding the case. This is obviously not the case with Kobe Bryant. He is back in Colorado today to face the judge that will preside over his rape trial. His attorneys will attempt to get the trial pushed back at least a year, so he can play the season. While at the same time, maybe playing the justice system to the point that if so much is made of the trial, that an impartial jury cannot be found. If there are 16 people in this country that have not heard of this case or formed an opinion as to guilt or innocence, then I will be shocked. You would have to be deaf, dumb, blind, mute, stupid or dead not to have heard of this case and the details that have been reported to this point. Now I am not proclaiming Bryant guilty or innocent, nor am I defending him or condemning him, but he does deserve a fair trial, meaning selection of 12 to 16 jurors that have not heard anything about this case. Or that they have heard about it, and have in no way formed an opinion as to whether or not he is guilty or innocent. If there are 16 people out there, then good. Get this thing moving! This is a worldwide story, that has reached just about every newspaper in the country. If his attorneys are successful in getting a postponement, this could lead to the case growing cold, if he is allowed to play the entire season. But this is an unlikely scenario. It comes down to something real simple, if Kobe Bryant hadn't fooled around on his wife, I wouldn't be writing this column, and he would be enjoying the high life that he built for himself. But he got himself into trouble for what, a few seconds of pleasure!! In that respect, I have no sympathy for him. On the other hand, I do feel for him just because I have a feeling that when the jury is picked, they are not going to all be the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, because it would be hard to either not to have heard of this case, or have formed an opinion as to his guilt or innocence. And if you have not heard of this case, then you almost have to be living underground, or are just not with it socially. It will play out in the coming months, just like a soap opera! Stay tuned!!
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