Vanessa Bryant, the widow to NBA star Kobe Bryant has given a sworn statement revealing how she learned about the helicopter accident that killed him and his daughter Gianna.
Vanessa recounted the tragic events of January 26, 2020 during a deposition in her lawsuit against Los Angeles County. She is suing over claims that deputies and a bartender shared grisly crash-scene photos.
In deposition, she said that Alex Villanueva, the LA Sheriff, had promised to keep the crash scene secret after she informed her that Kobe and Gianna were deceased. She also stated that she was able to deduce the grim state of the bodies from the clothing they were wearing.
Vanessa told a county prosecutor that she first heard about the crash around 9.45am when her assistant knocked on her door at 11.30am to inform her that there had been an accident.
Vanessa Bryant, the widow of NBA star Kobe Bryant, has sworn that she learned about the helicopter crash that claimed his life and that of their daughter Gianna.
Kobe Bryant is pictured with Gianna, his wife and other children.
According to a transcript by USA Today, Vanessa testified in Newport Beach that there was an accident that left five survivors. “And I asked if Gianna, and Kobe were alright. She said that she wasn’t sure. She didn’t know.
Vanessa claimed that she initially believed that Kobe and Gianna had survived, despite hearing that there were survivors.
She tried to call her husband in vain, but then notifications began to appear on her mobile phone, offering condolences and sharing her grief for Kobe’s passing.
“I was trying call my husband back, but all these notifications started popping-up on my phone, stating RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe. She said, “RIP Kobe.”
Vanessa was informed by the sheriff a few hours later that Kobe, 41 and Gianna, 13, had died in the crash.
She stated that she raced to an airport to attempt to fly a helicopter to the crash site, but was told that the weather conditions were too severe for that.
Vanessa also said that she had found the clothes Kobe & Gianna wore in the crash. She was concerned that someone might take photos.
According to the New York Times Bryant said that they had suffered a lot during the deposition.
“And if their clothes reflect their bodies, I can’t imagine how someone could be so cruel and not care about them or their friends. They just share images as if they were animals.
Vanessa said in the deposition that LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva vowed to keep the crash scene private moments after informing her that Kobe and Gianna were dead
She stated that the impact of the helicopter accident was so devastating that she didn’t understand how someone could have no regard for life or compassion and instead choose to use that opportunity to photograph lifeless and helpless people for their own sick amusement.
A charter helicopter was carrying Kobe and Gianna, as well as other youth basketball coaches, from Orange County, Thousand Oaks, when the pilot lost his way in fog and crashed in Calabasas.
She said, “My life will never be as good without my husband and my daughter.”
Vanessa’s federal lawsuit contends that first responders, including firefighters and sheriff´s deputies, shared photographs of Kobe Bryant’s body with a bartender and passed around ‘gratuitous photos of the dead children, parents and coaches.’
She claims in the suit that she has experienced severe emotional distress that has added to the trauma of losing Gianna, her husband, and her daughter, 13 years old, Gianna.
The lawsuit contends first responders, including firefighters and sheriff´s deputies, shared photographs of Kobe Bryant’s body with a bartender and passed around ‘gratuitous photos of the dead children, parents and coaches.’
The suit claims that deputies circulated the photos among themselves gratuitously, and that one displayed a photo on his phone to a bartender at Baja California Bar and Grill, who then loudly proclaimed to patrons and staff that he’d just seen an image of Kobe Bryant’s body.
Firefighters tackle the scene of a helicopter accident in which Kobe Bryant (former NBA basketball star) died in Calabasas, January 26, 2020
Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant. Charter helicopter carrying the two young basketball players and coaches from Orange County, Thousand Oaks was carrying them when the pilot became disoriented and crashed in Calabasas.
Los Angeles County argues that while the conduct was inexcusable, showing a photograph to one member the public does no constitute invasion of privacy.
According to the county, the photos weren’t shared with the media nor posted on the internet and therefore were not publicly disseminated.
In her deposition, Vanessa said she pleaded with the Los Angeles County sheriff to make sure no one took photographs from the crash site, and he reassured that the area had been secured.
After Sheriff Alex Villanueva confirmed that her husband was dead, he asked Vanessa Bryant to help him.
‘And I replied: “If you cannot bring my husband or baby back, please ensure that no one takes photos of them.” “Please secure the area,” Vanessa Bryant said during deposition.
“I will.” I replied, “No, I need to get on the telephone right now and I need to make sure the area is secure.”
Villanueva, she stated, excused herself for a moment, and reassured her that the area had been secured when they returned.
Villanueva has not returned a message requesting comments.
Villanueva had previously stated that eight deputies took or shared graphic photographs of the helicopter crash scene. However, he ordered that they be deleted.
Los Angeles County wants to force Vanessa Bryant and other people to undergo psychiatric evaluations to determine if they really suffered from emotional distress.
Bryant’s lawyers argue that the examinations of Bryant are ‘cruel’, while the county contends that they are a routine part in the discovery process.