A police officer in Los Angeles, California, has expressed regret over sharing photos with a bartender of the site where Kobe Bryant and his daughter died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
“I took it too far and did something I shouldn’t have,” Joey Cruz, a deputy in training at the time of the crash, told a Los Angeles federal jury.
Mr Cruz said he was “stressed and overwhelmed” while speaking to the bartender, whom he said is a close friend.
The officer's evidence came on the fourth day of a trial in which Vanessa Bryant, Bryant's widow, is seeking damages from Los Angeles County over the sharing of the crash site photos.
-
Vanessa Laine Bryant is seen on a screen during a public memorial for NBA great Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
NBA legend Michael Jordan sheds tears during the memorial to celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant at Staples Center. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports -
Shaquille O'Neal speaks during The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images/AFP -
Jay-Z departs after The Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant at Staples Center on February 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images/AFP -
Kobe's teammate Shaquille O'Neal speaks to the audience during the memorial to celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant at Staples Center. USA TODAY Sports -
Vanessa Bryant, wife of Kobe Bryant speaks about her husband, Kobe and daughter, Gianna at NBA Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna's memorial service 'A Celebration of Life: Kobe and Gianna Bryant' at Staple Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, February 24, 2020. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT -
US singer Christina Aguilera performs during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. AFP -
Fans gather around a mural of late NBA great Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant during a public memorial for them and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
Fans gather around LA Live during the public memorial for NBA great Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
A 24 x 24 foot stage, adorned in red roses, awaits those performers and speakers during the memorial to celebrate the life of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant at Staples Center. USA TODAY Sports -
Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant speaks during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. AFP -
Fans and merchants gather around L.A. Live during the public memorial for NBA great Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
Kobe Bryant's Lakers jerseys are displayed during the "Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant" service at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles on February 24, 2020. Kobe Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the rugged hills west of Los Angeles on January 26. AFP -
Fans gather around a mural of late NBA great Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant during a public memorial for them and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS -
A mural of late NBA great Kobe Bryant is pictured during the public memorial for him, his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others killed in a helicopter crash, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, US, February 24, 2020. REUTERS
Los Angeles County claims the photos were part of the photography needed to conduct an investigation into the crash and that it had successfully prevented them from surfacing online.
The jury has heard that police deputies and fire department officials shared photos showing Bryant's remains, as well as those of his daughter, Gianna, and the seven others who were killed when the helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California, a community north of Los Angeles.
Deputy Rafael Mejia said he had shared the photos with Mr Cruz and another trainee. In a logged conversation between him and another deputy, he said that “not a single person was intact” at the crash site.
“Looking back now, I absolutely wouldn’t do it again,” Mr Mejia said. He added that they had wanted the photos for their depiction of the scene of the crash, not to see the victim's remains.
“We wanted to know what was up there because we weren’t there,” he said.
Brian Jordan, a former fire captain, had to walk out of the witness box several times while giving evidence on Monday during questions about whether he had taken photos of Bryant's remains. Mr Jordan resisted questions that took him back to the day of the crash, citing stress.
Lawyers for Ms Bryant said Mr Jordan was led around to take site photography of the scene of the crash. Mr Jordan, who retired in 2021, claimed he did not remember taking photographs because he had blocked that day from his memory.
Bloomberg contributed to this report
