The widow of Kobe Bryant has just been heard by justice. As she lost her husband and father of her children in terrible circumstances, she recently had to face gruesome leaked photos of the corpses of crash victims. Vanessa Bryant said in court on Friday (August 19) that she was devastated when she learned that rescue workers had taken photos of the site where the helicopter crashed in which the basketball star, her daughter Gianna, 13, and seven other people were killed. A jury condemned this Wednesday, August 24, the county of Los Angeles to pay $31 million in damagesincluding 16 for widow Vanessa Bryant, due to photos taken by rescuers at the site of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, AFP tells us.
Officers from the sheriff’s office as well as firefighters dispatched to the scene of the accident in January 2020 had taken pictures on the spot, including photos of the shredded remains of the legendary basketball player and of his daughter Gianna, also died in this terrible tragedy. This civil lawsuit in Los Angeles highlighted how some first responders had shown these despicable photos to people outside the case. There is particular mention of a bartender. Finally, an officer from the sheriff’s office had also circulated these photos to a friend while they were playing video games. Los Angeles County, in its defense, argued that the footage never became public and that senior officials were quick to erase it from officers’ electronic devices.
Vanessa Bryant in tears after the verdict was read
But the two-week trial allowed Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, and Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter also died in the crash, to express their fear of seeing one day. these terrible images published on the internet and revealed to the general public. Very moved, Vanessa Bryant said she lived in fear that these photos would emerge. “It’s like Covid-19. Once it spreads, there’s no stopping it“, she said in particular. For these emotional damages, Vanessa Bryant received 16 million dollars, when Chris Chester received 15 million. The widow of the American Lakers superstar could not hold back her tears during the The verdict was read, and refused to speak to reporters as they left court, but took to her social media to post a photo of Kobe Bryant and their baby Gianna with the caption: “All for you! I love you! JUSTICE for Kobe and Gigi!“
Other families of victims were awarded $2.5 million in compensation last year in the same case. An investigation concluded that the helicopter pilot was responsible for the accident, a “error of judgmentt “having entailed its”disorientation” in the middle of a thick fog.