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Editorial: Kobe deserves the benefit of the doubt

The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, one of the most talented and popular basketball players of his generation, was officially charged on July 18, 2003, with the felony sexual assault of a 19-year-old hotel employee who came to his room at an exclusive resort and later accused him of forcing her to have sex

Maybe you believe Kobe Bryant is innocent, and discount out of hand the 19-year-old woman's accusation of felony sexual assault against him.

Or maybe you believe Kobe is guilty, and accept without question the accusation.

But regardless of your opinion, this should not be a knee-jerk reaction to either extreme.

We certainly don't condone adultery, as Kobe had publicly admitted. He deserves to be punished, not by the court of law, but by his wife and his family.

However, adultery is far different from rape. Did Kobe commit the crime of sexual assault? It's up to the court to prove that. Until then, Kobe deserves the benefit of the doubt. Not because he's a superstar player for the Lakers, but because of his right under law as a citizen of the United States. He deserves treatment fair and equal.

"I've been falsely accused of something and I'm innocent", says Kobe. Kobe, until your are proven guilty, we believe you, and will support you and your family.

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