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Mother of Kobe accuser speaks
Woman says she's proud of her daughter at a rally for National Crime Victims week
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Mother of Kobe accuser speaks The mother of the woman who is accusing Kobe Bryant of rape, spoke at a rally for National Crime Victims Week. MSNBC TV's Jennifer London reports. MSNBC |
DENVER - The mother of Kobe Bryant’s accuser spoke publicly for the first time Monday, saying she was proud of her daughter amid the storm surrounding the high-profile sexual assault case against the NBA star.
“I would like to thank my daughter for teaching me about courage,” the woman told about 100 people at a victims’ advocates rally. “I’m proud to be her mom.”
The accuser’s father also was at the rally but didn’t speak. They were invited to the annual event by the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
The 19-year-old accuser did not attend. Her parents were not identified during introductions and committed to attend at the last minute, organizers said.
The accuser’s mother spoke in support of pending legislation intended to protect alleged assault victims. The measure, which would allow judges to keep the names of alleged rape victims secret, was introduced in part because a woman was misidentified as the accuser in the Bryant case.
“Victims’ rights are about changing and rewriting laws to give victims equal protection under the law,” she told the crowd. “Victims’ rights are about standing up for the truth. Victims’ rights are about becoming a survivor.”
Bryant, a star with the Los Angeles Lakers, was charged with felony sexual assault after the woman told authorities he attacked her June 30 at a resort near Eagle where she worked. The 25-year-old guard says the sex was consensual.
If convicted of felony sexual assault, Bryant faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation. No trial date has been set.
Last month, the woman’s mother sent a letter to the judge asking him to set a trial date quickly so her daughter could begin to get on with her life. Her mother said the woman’s life was in jeopardy and she has been forced to move from state to state to outrun the media and defense investigators.
The event also was attended by Eagle County District Attorney Mark Hurlbert, who was introduced but made no remarks.
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