Bryant begs for forgiveness
2003-07-19 12:24
Los Angeles - Los Angeles Lakers basketball superstar Kobe Bryant made a teary-eyed public appearance on Friday where he denied sexually assaulting a female hotel employee, and begged his wife and fans to forgive him.
"I am innocent," said a visibly shaken Bryant with his wife, Vanessa, at his side. "I didn't force her (accuser) to do anything against her will.
"I am furious at myself and disgusted at myself for making the mistake of adultery."
Bryant appeared with Vanessa and his two lawyers, Hal Haddon and Pamela Mackey, at a news conference at Staples Centre arena.
Bryant, who was Friday formally charged in the western US state of Colorado with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman at the mountain resort where he was staying last month, vowed to fight the allegations.
"Nothing that happened June 30th was against the will of the woman who now falsely accuses me. These false allegations have hurt my family. I will fight against these allegations with all my strength."
Bryant said his wife Vanessa was "the strongest person I know" and that she would support him despite his dalliance.
"That means everything to me," he said. "I have so much to live for. And by that I do not mean the contracts, or the money, or the fame."
Vanessa Bryant did not speak during the news conference. But she released a statement where she strongly defended her husband against the sexual assault allegations that she branded as false and vowed to stand by him.
"I know that my husband has made a mistake, the mistake of adultery," she said. "He and I will have to deal with that within our marriage and we will do so.
"He is not a criminal. I know that he did not commit a crime. He did not assault anyone. He is a loving and kind husband and father and I believe in his innocence," she said.