NEWS INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT / CNN
CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK
'Coffey Talk'
Aired October 10, 2003 - 06:53 ET
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now we're going to take a closer look at the Kobe Bryant case in this morning's Coffey talk. Legal analyst Kendall Coffey is on the telephone from Miami.
Good morning, Kendall.
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, good morning, Carol.
LIN: A lot of lurid testimony on Thursday. That can't be good for Kobe Bryant's defense.
What do you think of their tactics?
COFFEY: Well, it's ugly stuff. But they're not worrying about the P.R. consequences. They're trying to do anything they can to win the trial and get whatever concessions they can. So, for example, where the alleged victim supposedly said that she was grabbed by the neck, the defense got the detective to say that there were no marks whatsoever on the front or back of the neck. It doesn't seem like a three point basket in the context of the overall P.R. disaster, but that could be worth a few points when this case actually goes to trial.
LIN: Nice analogy, but what about the blood on Kobe Bryant's T- shirt, which his lawyers had to confirm was, in fact, the blood of the alleged victim?
COFFEY: Absolutely devastating. But just as a nurse, a trained assault nurse has apparently said that that kind of blood and injury are not consistent with consensual sex, we ought to expect that the defense will have its own expert to contradict it. There's going to be dueling forensic experts on virtually every point of physical evidence in this case.
LIN: But does it seem to you that the defense attorneys are trying to, by their presentation, intimidate the accuser, just in case she ever does take the stand, , by using her name repeatedly, by going into graphic details about her injuries, the nature of her injuries and the location?
COFFEY: Boy, we sure hope not. That kind of tactic backfires not only with the judge, but anything, Carol, that creates a sense of further victimization of the alleged victim is going to help the prosecution. It'll create more sympathy for the alleged victim and highlights a key issue. Why would any rational person go through all the misery of having allegations against Kobe Bryant, your name run through the mud, even death threats, unless those allegations were truthful?
LIN: But why would Patricia Mackey repeatedly use her name, talk about the nature of the injuries, could they be consistent with someone who's had sex with three different me in three days, when there's no evidence of that?
COFFEY: Well, she's saying apparently that the use of the name was an accident. I'm not sure if the judge buys it.
LIN: Six times?
COFFEY: The judge seemed skeptical. And she's trying to get around the shield law in Colorado. But, again, I think most people are really wondering why do anything to injure the victim? It's only going to backfire, not just with this judge, but with the potential jurors in Eagle County.
LIN: All right, we'll see where the case goes.
Thank you very much, Kendall Coffey.
COFFEY: Hey, thanks, Carol.
LIN: A strong dose today on Coffey talk.
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