This won't be a popular post.
IIRC, the woman who accused Kobe of rape received death threats. Eventually, she opted for a civil suit instead of prosecution. Why? Given the way people are taking his death, is there any doubt he would never have been found guilty, no matter the evidence? Or that a crazed fan would have killed her? If you're receiving death threats and are pretty sure you'll never gain a conviction because of how beloved your accused rapist is, it isn't unreasonable to ditch the criminal case and go for a civil suit. If you read his statement from when the dust settled, it is cringe inducing. I realize there was never a criminal conviction, so he is not legally guilty. But I also know, given the evidence and his own statement, I always believed he was most likely guilty.
He may have turned his life around and done much good, but when I think of how I'd feel about him if I or my DD had been the woman in question, I can't generate warm fuzzy feelings. I fail to understand the deification we are witnessing. Still, a wife has lost a husband and child, and children have lost a father and sister. That is a tragedy. As it is for all the families involved.
