Yahoo News Kobe Bryant’s widow sues sheriff’s department over crash photos
Kobe Bryant’s widow is suing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department over photos taken at the site of his helicopter crash.
Vanessa Bryant claims she was caused severe emotional distress by deputies taking personal pictures at the scene of the crash, which killed the NBA legend, her 13-year-old daughter and seven others.
Ms Bryant was been vocal in her condemnation of the force after it admitted deputies took pictures at the scene and showed them around.
“No fewer than 8 sheriff's deputies at the crash site, pulled out their personal cell phones and snapped photos of the dead children, parents, and coaches,” the lawsuit states according to NBC4 Los Angeles.
“The deputies took these photos for their own personal gratification.”
Kobe and Gianna Bryant were among nine people killed when the helicopter they were onboard crashed in bad weather in Southern California on January 26 as they travelled to a youth girls basketball tournament.
The lawsuit claims that several of the deputies shared pictures with other members of the department with no investigative purpose.
Lawyers for Ms Bryant state that on one occasion a deputy even used the photos to impress a woman at a bar, and was reported to the sheriff’s office by the bartender.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva was also named in the lawsuit as it is claimed he tried to cover up the abuse by telling deputies to delete the photos from their phones.
He is also accused of withholding information about the photos from the grieving families, who only learned about them from media stories.
Mr Villanueva has already admitted that the eight deputies took and shared the photos of Mr Bryant and the other victims.
"Ms Bryant feels ill at the thought of strangers gawking at images of her deceased husband and child, and she lives in fear that she or her children will one day confront horrific images of their loved ones online,” the lawsuit added.
The lawsuit states Ms Bryant is seeking unspecified damages, including punitive damages.
The sheriff’s department has not commented on the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles last week.
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