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This is insane, just insane...
This is from SI.com, link below:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/basketball/nba/09/18/kobe.threats.ap/?cnn=yes
I'm a firm believer in the open court system, but idiots like this do make
me wonder sometimes...
$3 million offer
Police say Swiss man solicited murder of Bryant's accuser
Posted: Thursday September 18, 2003 9:29PM; Updated: Thursday September 18,
2003 10:42PM
MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities on Thursday arrested a Swiss
bodybuilding coach they said made a $3 million offer to kill the woman who
has accused Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant of sexual assault.
Patrick Graber was arrested for investigation of soliciting a murder after
making the offer to Bryant's security director and then meeting with
undercover detectives, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca told a news
conference at his headquarters.
Baca said Graber, 31, of El Segundo, agreed to carry out the murder for $1
million up front and $2 million after the fact.
"We believe it was a credible threat," sheriff's Lt. Jim Taylor said. He
added that just before the arrest, Graber was given a bag full of movie
studio prop money.
Graber was booked and held on $1 million bail, and an arraignment was set
for Monday. Sheriff's officials said he had an expired visa and worked at a
local gym.
The investigation began Sept. 8 after security personnel employed by Bryant
said they had received a letter from Graber saying he could solve Bryant's
problems, the Sheriff's Department said.
A security official met with Graber and then contacted sheriff's
investigators. A meeting was arranged with Graber and undercover sheriff's
detectives.
The detectives concluded that Graber was offering to commit murder and they
contacted the accuser's family in her home state of Colorado and
authorities there to advise them of the alleged threat.
Sheriff's undercover investigators had several more meetings with Graber in
which a money exchange for the murder was arranged, officials said.
Authorities said others may have been involved in the alleged plot. Taylor
said Graber planned to hire someone to commit the crime and offered to
provide evidence that it had been done.
"He said he could make her not come to court, he could make her disappear,
he could make her have a drug overdose," Taylor said.
Graber allegedly told authorities he was involved in organized crime,
possibly the Russian mafia. Sheriff's detectives said they do not have any
evidence that Graber had those ties, but are investigating.
Bryant is charged with raping a 19-year-old employee of a mountain resort
in Eagle County, Colo., on June 30. He has said the two had consensual sex.
Defense attorney Pamela Mackey said Thursday that Bryant, his lawyers and
his accuser have received multiple threats since the basketball star's arrest.
"This atmosphere threatens not just Mr. Bryant, his lawyers and the
accuser, but the fundamental right to a fair trial before an impartial
jury," Mackey said in a statement.
Mackey added that the suspect used the name "Yuri" in his contact with
Bryant's camp and that his meetings with law enforcement agents were recorded.
Telephone messages left by The Associated Press with the accuser's family
and her attorney were not immediately returned.