Man arrested for offering to kill woman in Kobe assault case

[Booberdawg]

Man held for threat against Kobe accuser

Graber allegedly offered to kill woman in sexual assault case

MONTEREY PARK, Calif., Sept. 18 — 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.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/968882.asp

I'm speechless. :eyes:

[PurityOfEssence]

1. Sports just bring out the best in people, don't they?

It's amazing: other than religion, I can't think of a habit that brings forth as much violence and ill-will.

At least religion's ABOUT something--generally wrong, but SOMETHING--sports are just a pastime.

[Booberdawg]

2. God forbid charges are filed against someones idol

It's just unbelievable. This man is apparently not concerned with whether the charge is true or not, or allowing this to go through the normal legal channels. He just wants to kill the bitch. How dare she accuse a sports hero.

Drives me insane!

[Festivito]

3. Something does not smell right about this reported story.

PATRICK GRABER WAS ARRESTED for investigation of soliciting a murder It seems to me that Graber was arrested NOT for HIS investigation TO solicit (KOBE) TO murder (KOBE'S ACCUSER). He was arrested for actually soliciting to murder, and rightly so.

Also, it seems to me that Kobe, via Kobe's employees, turned this person over TO the police. security personnel employed by Bryant said they had received a letter from Graber ... security official met with Graber and then contacted sheriff’s investigators ...

That first sentence bugs me. It seems puposefully misleading. They seem to want Kobe held in public view as guilty. Then I see people complaining about sports figures as though sports figures are the only kind of notables who become embroiled in such troubles and would thereby receive offers as evil as Kobe received.

I find this disturbing.

[Booberdawg]

4. That one line is poorly worded now that you mention it

I didn't take it the way you do though. If you take the whole article in context it is clear that GRABER was offering his own services to murder for hire and not for Kobe to do it. Nor do I see any indication that Kobe himself was contacted, but it was Kobe's security director that he made he offer to.

I really have a lot more concern and sympathy for the girl as a potential murder victim than I do about Kobe's image or getting his feelings hurt. :eyes: But I don't think the article casts the apersion on him that you have suggested either.

The woman has not been charged with a crime - Kobe has. Yet she seems to be the one that is the target of hate and vitriol. I find this disturbing.

[Festivito]

5. It's happening again.

Listen to yourself: "...GRABER was offering his own services to murder for hire and not for Kobe to do it. " This says Grabber was to murder her so Kobe wouldn't have to murder her himself. This is unthinking. You have just cast the aspersions on Kobe you claim the article did not cast.

The article was less direct, I'll admit. But, it positioned the words and left an impression not of a Kobe who turned this information over to police, but, as a Kobe who was involved in a hiring of a murderer of a witness. Kind of like a certain administration that keeps holding up a vile of Anthrax while talking about Iraq, as though some Iraqi stole Anthrax from Ft. Detrick in Maryland.

Yes, I feel for the woman who made these allegations against Kobe now fearing for her life, but, not to the extent that I'd carelessly allow someone to blame the person who made the plot known.

It is sad that rape is treated in this uncivil flying back and forth accusational manner. But, people are not to be treated as guilty just because they are charged, nor are those not charged always innocent, nor are those who make charges always innocent. Kobe is also the target of hate and vitriol.

I feel sorry for both sides. I hope that the truth will be found and that the truth will heal this situation, whether it is he or she who falls. Perhaps we'd both like that, and that truth might rid us of Bush and heal our nation, and our world.

[Booberdawg]

6. Is this better?

"...GRABER was offering his own services to murder for hire, not for Kobe to do it as you suggested "

I think you're reading too much in to this because of the one poorly written line in the original article.

[Festivito]

7. And, your "it" refers to what?

That Kobe was going to do (offer his own services to murder for hire) as you suggested.

Unless you wish to imply that Kobe was going to do (Grabber) as ... Now that's kinky.

TRY:
...GRABER was offering his own services to murder for hire, Kobe's security people informed police.

The article seems to be gone.