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0 A retired Los Angeles County fire fighter has claimed he was ordered by his superiors to take photos of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant – orders the fire chiefs deny ever issuing.
Brian Jordan, who retired in 2021, asked to be excused from the witness stand three times during his two-hour testimony, Law and Crime reported – citing the emotional trauma.
He was asked about the photos he took of the January 2020 crash that killed Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianni, 13.
Bryant’s widow Vanessa is suing LA County fire department and the sheriff’s office for invasion of privacy after the images of the crash were shared by officers.
Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant, is seen on Monday leaving court in Los Angeles. She is suing LA County fire department and sheriff’s office for invasion of privacy after photos of the bodies of her husband and daughter Gianna, 13, were taken and shared
Bryant, 40, is seeking unspecified damages in the case, which is expected to last another week
Brian Jordan, a retired fire fighter, is seen on Monday testifying in Los Angeles about photos he took of the crash site in Calabasas
Firefighters work at the scene of the helicopter crash where former NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant died in Calabasas
Crash seen investigators are seen examining the wreckage of the helicopter
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. The pair were killed in January 2020 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas
Jordan denied sending the images to anyone outside the sheriff’s or fire departments, but at times appeared confused about events.
The former fire fighters told the court repeatedly he does not ‘really remember being at the accident’ and does not ‘remember what was up there.’
Luis Li, Bryant’s attorney, asked why the laptop he handed in was missing its hard drive, and Jordan replied he was unaware of what had happened.
‘I have no clue,’ Jordan said, but added: ‘I did not manipulate any devices.’
Asked if he’d photographed Gianna Bryant’s remains, he said, according to Law and Crime: ‘I don’t even know who that is.’
He added: ‘I don’t know what I was photographing. I’m here because of false allegations, so please refrain from taking my brain back to that crash.’
Vanessa Bryant, left, and Kobe Bryant arrive at the Oscars in Los Angeles in 2018
Jordan insisted Anthony Marrone, the then-deputy chief, who since August 1 this year has been acting chief, told him to take the photos.
‘He said, ‘Take pictures, take pictures, take pictures,’ Jordan said, and described a stairwell he and Marrone were standing in when the order was given.
Jordan added: ‘Maybe that’s the one time I should have been insubordinate.’ Marrone, in a sworn testimony provided in August 2020, denied instructing Jordan to take photos.
He said he instructed everyone not to photograph any crash victims ‘as taking such photographs would neither be right nor appropriate.’
Vanessa Bryant is seeking unspecified damages from both the fire department and sheriff’s office.
The trial is expected to last another week.
