Woman Pictured As Kobe's Accuser Speaks Out
Katie Lovell Talks To 'Good Morning America'
POSTED: 6:10 am MDT July 30,
2003
UPDATED: 8:15 am MDT July 30,
2003
DENVER -- The identity of the 19-year-old Colorado woman who accused Kobe Bryant of rape has not been disclosed publicly but her name, address and phone number have been posted on numerous Web sites.
Some sites have also wrongly identified another Colorado woman as Bryant's accuser. On Wednesday, that woman asked publicly that her name and photograph be removed from the sites.
"I just want them to know it has hurt me as a person and want them to know it's not right for them to put innocent people on the Internet. And it makes me wonder how many times it's happened before and something needs to be done about it," Katie Lovell told ABC's "Good Morning America."Both Lovell and the alleged victim are 19, have similar first names, similar hair color and both went to Eagle County High School."I was really upset by the whole situation. Like many other girls my age, I am self-concious about myself and going on Web sites and seeing hundreds of people rate my pictures, one through 10, it magnified that by 10. And I wanted to do something, but I didn't know how to fight back," Lovell told ABC's Charlie Gibson.
Some sites have also wrongly identified another Colorado woman as Bryant's accuser. On Wednesday, that woman asked publicly that her name and photograph be removed from the sites.Judge Issues Order Of 'Decorum'
The judge presiding over Bryant's sexual assault case warned reporters that if they publish the name or photograph of the alleged victim, they may not get a seat in his courtroom. Critics said the ruling may be unconstitutional.As part of a three-page "decorum" order, Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett on Tuesday outlined the ground rules for media planning to cover Bryant's Aug. 6 hearing and future court appearances.New York lawyer Floyd Abrams -- a First Amendment expert who represented The New York Times in the Pentagon Papers case -- said the judge's warning about publishing a name or photograph may be unconstitutional."That does raise First Amendment issues of the highest order, and I think it is very likely unconstitutional to either limit the press's right to publish the name of the alleged victim, or to punish it by taking away seating privileges if it does so," Abrams told the Rocky Mountain News. "The same is true about publishing a photograph of the victim."Under Gannett's order, reporters also will be barred from using cell phones and tape recorders and from interviewing people inside the courthouse. No photos or video may be taken of witnesses, potential jurors or Bryant's accuser and her family.Gannett, who discussed the order with some reporters after its release, said it was intended to prevent a change of venue by stopping the contamination of the jury pool.Bryant's Lawyers Want Cameras Out
Bryant's lawyers don't want cameras in the courtroom for the Aug. 6 hearing.They've asked Gannett to reconsider his ruling allowing news cameras in the courtroom, saying they're concerned that the publicity could affect Bryant's right to a fair trial.Bryant's attorneys Pamela Mackey and Hal Haddon said they weren't given the chance to present arguments before Gannett issued his ruling on cameras last week.Bryant is expected to be present for the hearing, slthough the judge has told 7NEWS the Los Angeles Lakers star does have the right to request an appearance waiver. However, he said waivers for this kind of preliminary preceeding are extremely rare.Media lawyers, meanwhile, are asking for sealed court records to be opened. They say many details of the case have already been publicized, some by Bryant's lawyers and some by the district attorney."Ironically, at the same time, both the district lawyer and Bryant are opposing the very thing that would permit the public to independently test the veracity of their public relations statements, i.e., unsealing the court file," the lawyers wrote. Previous Stories:
- July 29, 2003: Court Web Site To Devote Page To Kobe's Case
- July 28, 2003: Will 911 Call From Kobe's Accuser Be Released?
- July 27, 2003: Bryant Prosecutor Getting Threats
- July 26, 2003: Cameras Allowed In Courtroom For Kobe Bryant Hearing
- July 25, 2003: Tabloid Publishes Purported Photo Of Bryant Accuser
- July 25, 2003: Scrutiny Of Kobe Bryant's Accuser Intensifies
- July 25, 2003: Bryant's Accuser Previously Called 'Danger To Self'
- July 24, 2003: Family Of Woman Pictured In Kobe Bryant Case Hires Lawyer
- July 24, 2003: Kobe's Defense Team Familiar With High Profile Cases
- July 24, 2003: Radio Host Reveals Name Of Bryant Accuser
- July 23, 2003: Friend Says Kobe's Accuser 'Felt Chemistry' With NBA Star
- July 22, 2003: Eagle Teen Offered $12,500 For Kobe Bryant Story
- July 21, 2003: Report: Kobe's Accuser Had Recent Overdose
- July 18, 2003: Kobe Bryant Maintains Innocence After Charges
- July 18, 2003: DA To Announce Kobe Bryant Decision This Afternoon
- July 17, 2003: Decision In Kobe Bryant Case To Be Announced Friday
- July 15, 2003: State Crime Lab Working On Kobe Bryant Case
- July 14, 2003: Bryant Tells Paper He's Innocent
- July 14, 2003: Friends Of Kobe Bryant Accuser Go On National TV
- July 12, 2003: Kobe Bryant's Accuser Had Tried Out For 'American Idol'
- July 10, 2003: Prosecutors: Decision In Bryant Case Won't Come This Week
- July 9, 2003: Sheriff Concerned About Pressure On Kobe Bryant's Accuser
- July 9, 2003: Taxi Driver Says NBA Star Was At Hospital After Assault Claim
- July 7, 2003: D.A.: No Decision On Charges Against NBA's Bryant
- July 7, 2003: Kobe Bryant Arrested For Alleged Sexual Assault
Copyright 2004 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.








