Bryant - Guilty or innocent?

[Cycleguy007]

I can't recall which of the many news bits had that tidbit of info. As more info came out the police stated that they may have charged him prematurely (or words to that effect)

Based on what's been reported in the news so far I don't think his legal team's going to have to work all that hard (assuming of course the media hasn't gotten things wrong <grin>)

Salvaging his political career..... that's likely going to take some doing however.

LOL! You have really nailed it there Moraff! I don't know what I have more of a lack of respect for... that of the accuracy of news reporting by the media or of the clear & utter manipulation of the legal system by lawyers!

 

[Moraff]

Sources?

All the reports I've seen say that Bryant went a couple blocks after running over the cyclist (after having apparently intentionally "scraped" him off of the side of his car against a mailbox, according to reports provided by CTV). That's a whole lot more than 20 feet. In any event, Section 200 of the Highway Traffic Act requires a driver to stop immediately in the case of an accident, not down the road after having run over the victim with their rear wheels.

I can't find the news report where it said 20' so I'll have to retract that. However I did find this map of the event(s)....

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=MSNN15&cp=43.669228~-79.391834&style=r&lvl=17&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&cid=65D17AD3A873FA93!484&encType=1&mkt=en-ca

Which shows that Bryant turned off about 100m after Sheppard left the car. Maybe half-a block. Not an unreasonable distance IMO if Sheppard was still aggressing Bryant up to that point.


Yes you aren't supposed to flee an accident scene but there's more than just an accident at play here. There's also the part about self-defense and continuing until you have escaped to safety. Just because Sheppard got knocked off the car doesn't turn an escape to prevent bodily harm into leaving an accident. (if that's what happened... haven't settled whether Sheppard was just hanging on or still threatening Bryant and/or hanging on the wheel)

And I have seen no reports that Bryant called 911. There have been unconfirmed reports that his female passenger called 911, but there have also been reports that others watching the events transpire called 911 and police caught up with Bryant after he had stopped.

Item 4 on the same map.

 

[Cycleguy007]

Right? (Unless there is A LOT more to this story than we know (or are being told).... too bad no one can get the other guy's story on this matter... I'm just saying...)

In light of this...

Here's the video(s) of Bryant hitting the cyclist.
I must say this changes my opinion of things:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFISP_PrhFo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufM7zvX3-tM&annotation_id=annotation_193242&feature=iv

Really, really weird!!
Why would he do sucha thing??!!!

It seems we still don't have all the information...

 

[atherton_wing]

I swear some of you guys work for Bryant's PR firm....

After seeing the following video that was originally posted by Sammy the Bull:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTQ69STzhf0

How can anyone stand up for Michael Bryant when, clearly, he was the aggressor in the video - by hitting the cyclist.

Don't you think that a massive car even tapping the back wheels of a bicycle is an act of aggression? Don't you think that if you were on a bicycle and some jerk in a car tapped your back wheels (maybe even pushed your bike; however too grainy to completely determine) that you would be immensely angry. You might even take your knapsack and chuck it onto the convertible out of frustration.

Seriously guys....after that video how could you possibly state that Sheppard was the initial aggressor.

I think that people should start making decisions about this situation with evidence, not their inner hatred towards cyclists.

 

[flubadub]

It looks pretty clear from the video that Bryant intentionally hit Sheppard's bike, knocked him off and immediately tried to drive away. Its hard to say but either Sheppard's knapsack landed on Bryant's car when he hit him or Sheppard threw it on the car as the car started to drive away, but since the car started driving away immediately its going to be very hard for him to argue self defense. There was no time for Sheppard to make any kind of threat.

Bryant's guilty

 

[Cycleguy007]

BUT... (there's always a but isn't there...)

Bryant being an "upstanding member of the Bar, and former MPP, not to mention former AG" and Allan Sheppard being pretty much just a regular guy that may or may not have been in trouble and run into rough times.... Who do you think will undoubtedly have the FULL weight of the so called "legal system" thrown firmly into his corner and will likely get off!!!

I guess I shouldn't be so quick to pass judgement on our so called justice system, but it sure looks as if the spin doctors have been ramping this up in Bryant's favour...

Until now. Sheesh!!!!

 

[Aardvark154]

It looks pretty clear from the video that Bryant intentionally hit Sheppard's bike, knocked him off and immediately tried to drive away.

For me the video is far from clear (both literally as well as figuratively). I'm still going to withhold judgement.

 

[blackrock13]

For me the video is far from clear (both literally as well as figuratively). I'm still going to withhold judgement.

Aartie;

9/9/9 will be a good day to remember, not just for luck but that it was a day I agreed with you.

I look at a whole lot of video and such and this video is far from conclusive and is very poor quality; certainly not enough to stand alone and convict the guy.

 

[ChaosTheory]

Kobe Bryant is innocent!!!

just kidding...

...kobe's not innocent

 

[blackrock13]

Kobe Bryant is innocent!!!

just kidding...

...kobe's not innocent

Ya but is he guilty as charged, what ever they are. Anybody know yet?

 

[Mia.Colpa]

It looks pretty clear from the video that Bryant intentionally hit Sheppard's bike, knocked him off and immediately tried to drive away. Its hard to say but either Sheppard's knapsack landed on Bryant's car when he hit him or Sheppard threw it on the car as the car started to drive away, but since the car started driving away immediately its going to be very hard for him to argue self defense. There was no time for Sheppard to make any kind of threat.

Bryant's guilty

Guilty of what? Hitting Sheppard on his bike from the rear? What charge is that called?

I'm still trying to figure out what happened after Bryant hit Sheppard? Does anyone know or dare I ask, speculate on what happened after the hit on the rear of the bike?

 

[fuji]

Guilty of what? Hitting Sheppard on his bike from the rear? What charge is that called?

If it was intentional then that would be called assault and battery with a weapon.

He's actually been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, and also with criminal negligence causing death.

I wonder whether the charge will be upgraded.

 

[fuji]

I'm still trying to figure out what happened after Bryant hit Sheppard? Does anyone know or dare I ask, speculate on what happened after the hit on the rear of the bike?

As best we know the facts, what happened next, without my own interpretation:

1. Sheppard went to the car door
2. Bryant drives off, with Sheppard hanging on to the car, moving so fast sparks fly from his metal toe clips
3. The car moves into the oncoming lane
4. Sheppard is smashed into objects at the side of the road
5. Bryant drives off another couple of blocks, then calls 911

Now adding my interpretation:

Sheppard angrily and aggressively confronts Bryant, who is equally angry and attempting to flee the scene of the accident. Sheppard sees that Bryant is trying to flee and grabs on to the car to prevent him from leaving. Bryant gets even more pissed off and smashes Sheppard into mailboxes and trees intentionally to try and get rid of him. Bryant begins driving off, but then realizes how bad the situation has got, and finally cools off enough to call 911.

 

[thompo69]

For me the video is far from clear (both literally as well as figuratively). I'm still going to withhold judgement.

I completely agree. This is nothing more than a grainy video, with presumptive captioning and without any timecoding. I need more information.

 

[james t kirk]

BUT... (there's always a but isn't there...)

Bryant being an "upstanding member of the Bar, and former MPP, not to mention former AG" and Allan Sheppard being pretty much just a regular guy that may or may not have been in trouble and run into rough times.... Who do you think will undoubtedly have the FULL weight of the so called "legal system" thrown firmly into his corner and will likely get off!!!

I guess I shouldn't be so quick to pass judgement on our so called justice system, but it sure looks as if the spin doctors have been ramping this up in Bryant's favour...

Until now. Sheesh!!!!

Exactly.

Bryant will be given every bennefit of the doubt.

After seeing that video, I want to change my vote to Manslaughter.

 

[oldjones]

In light of this...



It seems we still don't have all the information...

Duhh!

And the same kinda idiots who thought they knew it all then are rushing back with the opposite opinions now. As if their minds were helpless before the onrush of mental storm surges, but they had to post anyway.

We'll all be better off if we focus on being rational, not judgemental. And we note the poll has no option for: Too soon to say.

 

[Mia.Colpa]

Now adding my interpretation:

Sheppard angrily and aggressively confronts Bryant, who is equally angry and attempting to flee the scene of the accident. Sheppard sees that Bryant is trying to flee and grabs on to the car to prevent him from leaving. Bryant gets even more pissed off and smashes Sheppard into mailboxes and trees intentionally to try and get rid of him. Bryant begins driving off, but then realizes how bad the situation has got, and finally cools off enough to call 911.

That makes sense to me, but for one thing. Did Sheppard really think he could prevent Bryant from leaving the scene by holding onto the car with all that SAAB horsepower? Or was he too drunk to know what he was doing and it just got ugly after that, but unfortunately too late for him?