Vanessa Bryant.Photo: ESPN
The 39-year-old filed a legal complaint against Los Angeles County last year, claiming that leaked photos of the site of Kobe and Gianna’s fatal helicopter crash in January 2020 caused emotional distress.
Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant with two of their daughters, Natalia and Gianna, in 2018.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Hoping to get to the Calabasas crash site, Vanessa attempted to charter a helicopter but was denied due to weather conditions. Ultimately, she was told to report to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
She said she eventually received confirmation of Kobe and Gianna’s deaths — and all seven others aboard the helicopter — from Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva hours later, after previously asking officers at the sheriff’s department for an update with no response.
Attorneys for Vanessa declined PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Vanessa Bryant Instagram
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In the deposition, Vanessa also detailed her request to have “the [crash] area be designated a no-fly zone and protected from photographers.”
Vanessa’s previous courtfilingdetailed that despite her request, “photos of the remains quickly spread within the Sheriff’s Department as deputies transmitted them to one another via text message and AirDrop. Within forty-eight hours, at least 10 members of the Sheriff’s Department obtained photos of the victims' remains on their personal cell phones despite having no legitimate governmental use of the photos.”
During the deposition, Vanessa was asked to explain how she experienced “emotional distress” from the situation.
“The impact of the helicopter crash was so damaging, I just don’t understand how someone can have no regard for life and compassion, and, instead, choose to take that opportunity to photograph lifeless and helpless individuals for their own sick amusement,” Vanessa said, emphasizing her desire for “accountability.”
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Vanessa has listed several witnesses to further detail her emotional distress in upcoming individual depositions, perThe New York Times. Witnesses includeCiara,La La Anthony,Monica, Sharia Washington (Kobe’s sister), and Catherine Gasol, wife of NBA starPau Gasol.
source: people.com
