Vanessa Bryant Joined by Daughter Natalia, Rob Pelinka in Court as Crash Pictures Trial Goes to Jury

Defense attorney Mira Hashmall presented closing statements in court on Wednesday on behalf of Los Angeles County in Vanessa Bryant's lawsuit

Vanessa Bryant arrives at Federal Court to testify Friday . Photo: Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty

The legal team representing Los Angeles County presented the defense's closing argument Wednesday in the civil case brought forth by Vanessa Bryant and Chris Chester concerning pictures allegedly taken and shared by some sheriff and fire personnel of the 2020 crash site.

First to represent the county's defense was attorney Mira Hashmall, who repeatedly told the jury throughout her closing, "This is a pictures case with no pictures." Hashmalls asked the jury to consider the perspectives of the first responders who examined the site on the day of the 2020 helicopter crash. "Can you imagine what it was like for our first responders that day? We expect a lot from our first responders, but they're not superhuman. Their focus was to save lives, contain a brush fire and see if there were any survivors," she said.

Additionally, she criticized the plaintiff's case, calling their lawsuit "the first case of this kind" and full of "diversions and distractions." Hashmall hypothesized the negative consequences a verdict in the plaintiffs' favor could have on future first responders, who may shy away from collecting helpful evidence in fear of similar accusations. "Imagine if they had to rely on oral reports. Sometimes too many words get in the way," she said.

The county's closing statement reminded the jury "not a single picture" from the scene has been leaked. "They say it's a cover-up. It's the worst cover-up I've ever seen," the defense attorney laughed, adding how both departments immediately started investigations when complaints came in. Hashmall said the plaintiffs are "trying to pin all the blame on the county when the photos never got out."

Following Hashmall's closing statement, Vanessa's attorney, Luis Li, addressed the room to thank the first responders "who showed up with pure hearts and did the right thing when no one was looking. They are heroes. This case is not about them." Vanessa could be seen and heard audibly crying as she wiped away tears with a tissue as her attorney spoke.

"Mrs. Bryant has never once throughout this case asked for a specific dollar amount," he said. "She's always wanted accountability for Kobe and Gianna and to shine a light on their legacies. This is for every family who may face tragedy someday. This is a case about people standing up when they witnessed wrongdoing."

Friends and family of Vanessa's showed their support on Wednesday in the packed courtroom. Natalia Bryant was in court with her mom, as well as Los Angeles Lakers general manager and Kobe's best friend, Rob Pelinka, who brought his wife Kristin. Soccer star Sydney Leroux, whom Gianna Bryant idolized, sat beside Natalia.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Witness Luella Weireter also arrived at the courthouse for Wednesday's closing statements. Weireter, who is married to a Los Angeles firefighter, earlier testified in the trial that she overheard and saw photos from the crash being shared at a gala.

Vanessa and Chris Chester, who lost his wife Sarah and their 13-year-old daughter Payton in the accident, claim photographs of the victims' bodies were publicly shared on at least 28 devices owned by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and by more than a dozen first responders.

Craig Lavoie delivered a powerful closing argument in Vanessa's case against the county on Tuesday. Lavoie opened his statement with a reminder that Kobe would have turned 44 years old Tuesday if he was still alive. "Forty-four years ago today in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kobe Bryant was born. Today is his birthday," Lavoie began, adding what an honor it is to represent Vanessa. He asked for "justice and accountability" for Kobe and Gianna, who would have turned 16 in May.

Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty

Lavoie described the January 2020 helicopter accident as "devastating and life-shattering" before he condemned the conduct of the sheriff and fire department defendants, "who were supposed to protect the dignity of those who perished on that hillside." More than once during his closing statements, Lavoie said the behavior "shocks the conscience."

Co-plaintiff Chester was represented by Jerry Jackson, who also delivered his closing arguments Tuesday after Vanessa's lawyer. "I'm not going to start this fight, but I'm going to finish it," began Jackson, who said the defendants stole the privacy and the dignity of these victims and their families. "And they did it cruelly," he added. "They did it inhumanely and then they laughed about it, lied about it, and tried to cover it up. They couldn't keep their stories straight."

Jackson asked for damages of a combined $75 million for both families.

RELATED VIDEO: Chris Chester, Who Lost Daughter and Wife in Kobe Bryant Crash, 'Fearful All the Time' of Photos Leaking

Vanessa took the stand on Friday to give an emotional three-hour testimony about what she experienced following the deaths of her husband and daughter.

"I want to remember my husband and my daughter the way that they were," explained Vanessa, who also shares Capri, 3, Bianka, 5, and Natalia, 19, with Kobe. "I don't ever want to see these photographs. I have three little girls!" The revelation, she told a Federal Court, has caused her to "live in fear every day of being on social media and having these photos pop up."