Kobe Bryant Crash Photos Trial: Vanessa Bryant Reveals Painful Experience After Graphic Pictures Get Leaked
Vanessa Bryant has opened up about what she felt after Lakers star Kobe Bryant's crash photos were leaked by several officers from Los Angeles County.
According to BBC, Bryant's widow took the stand on Friday in the trial over photos taken at the site of the helicopter crash that killed her husband and daughter.
Vanessa Bryant sued Los Angeles County for invasion of privacy and negligence after first responders allegedly shared photos from the tragic accident. She is seeking unspecified millions for her emotional distress.
Vanessa Bryant Testifies in Kobe Bryant Crash Photo Trial
During her testimony, Kobe Bryant's widow said she felt "blindsided, devastated, hurt, and betrayed" by the news about the photos leaking.
"I felt like I wanted to run, run down the block, and scream... It was like the feeling of wanting to run down a pier and jump into the water. The problem is I can't escape. I can't escape my body," Vanessa Bryant noted.
Kobe's widow also said she "bolted" out of the house and around to the side so her daughters would not see that she was not okay.
"I was blindsided again, devastated, hurt... I trusted them not to do these things... I don't ever want to see these photographs... I want to remember my husband and my daughter the way they were," Vanessa said.
A lawyer for Los Angeles County noted that the pictures were only taken since they were essential for assessing the site moments after the crash and that the images had not been publicly posted anywhere.
However, Vanessa said she constantly worries that some photos might still emerge publicly. She noted that she lives in fear every day "of being on social media and these popping up" and "in fear of my daughters being on social media and these popping up."
Vanessa Bryant also compared the possible distribution of the Kobe Bryant crash photos to COVID, saying "once it's spread, you can't get it back."
Kobe Bryant's widow further noted that she continued to suffer from grief and anxiety at the thought of the photos surfacing someday. She said the thought keeps her awake at night while she lies next to her 3-year-old and 5-year-old.
She noted that it sometimes leads to panic attacks in which she cannot breathe. She added she sought the help of a therapist for about 18 months after the crash but had not since.
Kobe Bryant Crash Photo Trial
Vanessa Bryant also sued the Los Angeles County's Sheriff Department and Fire Department over the leaked photos of Kobe Bryant's crash site allegedly taken and shared by deputies.
Bryant's widow claimed that the county sheriff's and fire department employees improperly shared images of human remains from a helicopter crash that killed the NBA legend, their 13-year-old daughter, and seven other individuals.
According to the suit, "no fewer than eight sheriff's deputies at the crash site pulled out their personal cell phones and snapped photos of the dead children, parents and coaches."
Vanessa said she suffered great emotional distress after learning of the photos, adding that they compounded the loss of her husband and daughter.
On Monday, former Fire Captain Boran Jordan took the stand, claiming that he was instructed to take photos at the crash scene. However, a chief from the fire department said the former fire captain was not directed to do it.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputies Joey Cruz and Michael Russel took the stand and explained why they showed the photos to other people.
They said they shared the images to alleviate their stress. Vanessa Bryant was the final witness for the prosecution, and the defense will argue its case next.
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi Bryant were just among the nine people who lost their lives in the helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.
The NBA legend and his daughter were heading to a basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks in California when the helicopter crashed.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Joshua Summers
WATCH: Vanessa Bryant to Testify in Helicopter Crash Scene Photos Trial - From Fox 11 Los Angeles
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