Bryant Lawyers’ Change of Heart

Kobe Bryant’s attorneys reversed course Monday, saying they no longer objected to a judge releasing sealed evidence in the Laker star’s sexual assault case.

In a court filing, defense attorney Pamela Mackey withdrew a Sept. 8 request to keep sealed the arrest warrant, statements Bryant made to investigators and other evidence. News organizations had requested the documents be released, and prosecutors agreed.

Judge Richard Hart has issued a temporary restraining order to keep the material sealed, and a hearing is scheduled for Friday. However, legal experts said that Bryant’s latest move could make the proceeding unnecessary. Hart did not immediately rule on whether to unseal the evidence.

Transcripts of Bryant’s lengthy tape-recorded interview with investigators the day after the alleged rape were made public Sept. 15 when the Vail Daily received a compact disc and a transcript of the interview in an envelope sent anonymously and bearing a Denver postmark.

Mackey sent a letter to Eagle County, Colo., Dist. Atty. Mark Hurlbert on Sept. 22 informing him that the defense was considering withdrawing its objection to unsealing the material, saying that “all the records” pertaining to the case should be released.

“Within your files and the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office are records that are highly damaging to the prosecution, that tend to exculpate Mr. Bryant and corroborate his account of the sexual encounter, and that reveal unprofessional, unethical and otherwise unlawful or improper conduct by law enforcement officials,” Mackey wrote.

Mackey listed 11 pieces of evidence that Bryant believes should be disclosed “to allow a full and fair public and media scrutiny of your office and law enforcement.” Hurlbert responded with a letter that said, in part, “I do not have an agenda to discredit you or your client.”

Hart has not ruled on a motion by Bryant’s attorneys to appoint an investigator to determine the source of the leak to the Vail Daily. Bryant still faces a civil suit filed by the accuser seeking unspecified damages.