Downtown, Los Angeles–Trial continues tomorrow morning in the case against Los Angeles County by Vanessa Bryant for invasion of privacy and negligence. The lawsuit comes after the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant, their 12-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.
Bryant is alleging first responders caused her and her family emotional distress, after they shared graphic photos of the helicopter crash. She is suing for an unspecified amount in the millions.
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy testified that he took at least 25 pictures on his phone, and was among the first to arrive at the scene of the helicopter crash. These photos included close up images of body parts which the deputy says he sent to other people.
Bryant and her lawyer allege these photos spread to at least 10 people.
Read More: Day 3 of Vanessa Bryant trial: Why did deputy take close-up photos of body parts?
Deputy Doug Johnson testified that he took photos of the site as part of the investigation and shared these images with his commanding officers. However, Johnson says he lost the phone that the photos were taken on in Vegas a year later.
Johnson testified that having death photos on his personal phone was not unusual and that it was a common practice among law enforcement to share photos of dead bodies.
Bryant’s lawsuit was consolidated for trial with Chris Chester, whose wife Sarah, and 13-year-old daughter Payton, was killed in the helicopter crash and photographed by first responders.
