Photos of Kobe Bryant's fatal crash: $ 31 million in damages for his loved ones

The sum is up to the notoriety of Kobe Bryant.

A jury on Wednesday ordered Los Angeles County to pay $31 million in damages, including $16 for widow Vanessa Bryant, over photos taken by rescue workers at the site of the helicopter crash that killed the legendary basketball player.

Officers from the sheriff's office as well as firefighters dispatched to the scene of the accident in January 2020 had taken pictures of the shredded remains of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who also died in the tragedy.

The civil trial in Los Angeles exposed how some first responders showed those photos to people outside the case, including a bartender.

A sheriff's office officer had also sent them to a friend while the two were playing video games.

On the defense side, Los Angeles County argued that the footage never became public and that its senior officials were quick to erase it from officers' electronic devices.

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During the two-week trial, Vanessa Bryant, the widow of the basketball superstar, and Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter also died in the crash, recounted their constant fear that the images would one day be revealed to the general public. public on the Internet.

The two plaintiffs, whose complaints have been merged, alleged emotional damage.

Vanessa Bryant, who wept as the verdict was read, left the court without speaking to reporters.

She then posted on Instagram a photo of Kobe Bryant and their deceased daughter, writing: “All for you!

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JUSTICE for Kobe and Gigi!

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"Not too much money to make up for what they've been through"

Chris Chester's lawyer, Jerry Jackson, had asked the jury on Tuesday to award the two plaintiffs $1 million for each year of their estimated life expectancy, or $40 million for 40-year-old Vanessa Bryant and $30 million for 48-year-old Chris Chester.

Jerry Jackson called these demands "fair and reasonable compensation".

"There is no sum of money too great to compensate for what they have been through," he said.

Vanessa Bryant's lawyer, Craig Lavoie, told him he wanted justice and that those involved be held accountable.

“We are here because of intentional behavior: the county violated the constitutional rights of Ms. Bryant and Mr. Chester,” he said.

Read alsoKobe Bryant: the tragic death of a legend

The jury reached its verdict on Wednesday after about four and a half hours of deliberation.

A verdict given on the day Los Angeles celebrates "Mamba Day", August 24, or 24/8, the two lucky numbers worn by Bryant, nicknamed "Black Mamba", during his 20-year professional career ( 1996-2016).

Other families of victims were awarded $2.5 million in compensation last year in the same case.

An investigation had concluded that the pilot of the helicopter was responsible for the accident, an "error in judgement" having led to his "disorientation" in the middle of thick fog.

The death at 41 of Kobe Bryant, emblematic player of the Los Angeles Lakers and considered one of the best basketball players in history, had caused great emotion around the world.