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URL: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_3155956,00.html

Victim advocates dissect rape case that went wrong

By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News
September 2, 2004

Rape victim advocates had mixed feelings Wednesday about whether the dismissal of the case against Kobe Bryant would deter other victims from reporting sexual assaults.

"Do we believe that reporting of sexual assault will drop to zero because of this?" said Cynthia Stone, with the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault. "No. There's a very compelling human need to seek justice against those who we feel have wronged (us)."

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But others, like Regina Cowles, president of the Boulder chapter of the National Organization for Women, disagree.

"I think it's common sense that victims would think twice about what can happen to them," Cowles said.

"It's a sad day for Colorado citizens. Forget reporting the crime - I worry about victims even reaching out for help to call their local rape crisis center because they have no faith the system is protecting them."

But others say the Bryant case was an "atypical" sexual assault case, and that what happened can't be applied to other cases.

"Celebrity was a huge factor, combined with the intense media attention," said Janin D'Annibale with Moving to End Sexual Assault.

"There were things that were going wrong that the prosecutors couldn't control."

Kathie Kramer with the Rape Assistance and Awareness program said she fears the dismissal of the Bryant case will send the wrong message about how sexual assault cases in general will be handled in the future.

"The dismissal of charges raises three concerns for us: Will victims be even less likely to report? Will prosecutors be even less likely to file charges? And will potential jurors be even less able to hear non-stranger cases without prejudice?" she said.

"We certainly hope not."

Stone said everything that happened in the Bryant case shows just how difficult sexual assault cases are to prosecute.

"The unfortunate and extraordinary circumstances of this case - a very high-profile celebrity who has almost endless financial resources and a very wily defense - has made this case the poster child for the worst we can treat a victim in sexual assault," she said.