Kobe Bryant: Vanessa Bryant wins case to get names of delegates who allegedly took photos of crash site

by

Attorneys for the LASD and Los Angeles County wanted to keep the delegates’ names and ranks sealed, arguing that “hackers can try to search the individual delegates’ devices and access the individual delegates’ devices to locate photos. and publish it, “court documents said. .

US District Judge John F. Walter said in a ruling Monday that this “totally contradicts their view that such photos no longer exist.”

“The sheriff’s department wants to edit the names of the deputies who took and / or shared photos of my husband, daughter, and other victims,” ​​Bryant wrote in a statement on Instagram. “Anyone facing charges would go unprotected, be named and released to the public. … These particular delegates, like everyone else, should be held accountable for their actions.”

Prior to Monday’s ruling, Sheriff Alex Villanueva had confirmed that all photos of the crash that were in those deputies’ possession had been deleted.

Bryant’s attorney Luis Li welcomed the judge’s ruling Monday evening, telling CNN in a statement, “Transparency promotes accountability. We look forward to bringing Ms. Bryant’s case to public hearing.”

Photos from shared scene

Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people died when the helicopter they were in crashed near Calabasas en route to a youth basketball game on a foggy morning on January 26, 2020.

After completing their investigation last month, the National Transportation Safety Board said Island Express charter pilot Ara Zobayan pushed the boundaries of bad weather flight rules, climbed into the clouds, became disoriented about the helicopter’s position in relation to the horizon and made a descending left turn. a hill obscured by clouds.

Kobe Bryant's widow asks court to publish names of deputies who took photos of deadly helicopter crash
In February 2020, the LASD said it was “deeply concerned” about a report that delegates shared photos of the crash site, CNN previously reported.

After the crash, Bryant has not only advocated for the release of the delegates’ names, but has also urged Congress to pass a new helicopter safety law named after her husband and daughter.

She also filed the civil claim against the LASD and Sheriff Villanueva for the September photo leak, demanding undisclosed damages to remedy civil rights violations, negligence, emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

On the day of the crash, family members gathered at the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, where the sheriff assured them that the crash site was secured. However, a leak from the department, according to the lawsuit obtained by CNN, led to TMZ breaking the news and fans flocking to the area.

The sheriff’s department said at the time that it would not comment on pending disputes.

CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report.

Source