Bill Cosby will learn on Tuesday whether he will go to prison for sexual assault as a sentencing hearing in a Pennsylvania courtroom concludes, capping the comedian's downfall from "America's Dad" to disgraced felon.

Cosby, who was found guilty in April, is the first celebrity to be convicted since the start of the #MeToo movement, the national reckoning with sexual misconduct that has brought down dozens of powerful men in entertainment, politics and other fields.

Cosby, 81, cemented his family-friendly reputation playing the mischievous but lovable Dr. Cliff Huxtable in the 1980s sitcom "The Cosby Show."

That has since been eclipsed by his conviction for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a former administrator at his alma mater Temple University, in his Philadelphia-area home in 2004. More than 50 other women also have accused him of sexual abuse going back decades, with most too old to prosecute. The Constand case is the only allegation that has resulted in a conviction.

Constand spoke briefly on the first day of the hearing on Monday.

"Your honor, I have testified," Constand said. "I have given you my victim impact statement. The jury heard me. Mr. Cosby heard me. All I am asking for is justice as the court sees fit."

Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven O'Neill said he must first rule on whether to designate Cosby a "sexually violent predator" under state law. On Monday, he heard from a state-appointed psychologist who said the designation was necessary because there was a risk of Cosby committing another offense.

Citing Cosby's frailty and blindness, Cosby's lawyers opposed the label, which would carry more onerous reporting requirements, including monthly counseling and registration as a sex offender with police for the rest of his life.

Prosecutors asked for the maximum prison sentence of between five and 10 years, citing the nature of Cosby's crime as well as his alleged history of misconduct. They also asked the judge to levy a $25,000 fine on Cosby and make him pay court costs. If ever he came up for parole, prosecutors want him to submit to a "psycho-sexual evaluation" that he had refused prior to sentencing.

Cosby's lawyers asked for house arrest rather than prison time, arguing that imprisonment was overly punitive given his age.

Cosby's first trial in 2017 ended in a mistrial when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. Soon after that proceeding, a series of women began leveling sexual misconduct allegations against influential men, launching the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements that have encouraged victims to speak up about their experiences.

Bill Cosby will learn on Tuesday whether he will go to prison for sexual assault as a sentencing hearing in a Pennsylvania courtroom concludes, capping the comedian's downfall from "America's Dad" to disgraced felon.

Bill Cosby will learn on Tuesday whether he will go to prison for sexual assault as a sentencing hearing in a Pennsylvania courtroom concludes, capping the comedian's downfall from "America's Dad" to disgraced felon. Cosby, who was found guilty in April, is the first celebrity to be convicted since the start of the #MeToo movement, the national reckoning with sexual misconduct that has brought down dozens of powerful men in entertainment, politics and other fields. Cosby, 81, cemented his family-friendly reputation playing the mischievous but lovable Dr. Cliff Huxtable in the 1980s sitcom "The Cosby Show." That has since been eclipsed by his conviction for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a former administrator at his alma mater Temple University, in his Philadelphia-area home in 2004. More than 50 other women also have accused him of sexual abuse going back decades, with most too old to prosecute. The Constand case is the only allegation that has resulted in a conviction. Constand spoke briefly on the first day of the hearing on Monday. "Your honor, I have testified," Constand said. "I have given you my victim impact statement. The jury heard me. Mr. Cosby heard me. All I am asking for is justice as the court sees fit." Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven O'Neill said he must first rule on whether to designate Cosby a "sexually violent predator" under state law. On Monday, he heard from a state-appointed psychologist who said the designation was necessary because there was a risk of Cosby committing another offense. Citing Cosby's frailty and blindness, Cosby's lawyers opposed the label, which would carry more onerous reporting requirements, including monthly counseling and registration as a sex offender with police for the rest of his life. Prosecutors asked for the maximum prison sentence of between five and 10 years, citing the nature of Cosby's crime as well as his alleged history of misconduct. They also asked the judge to levy a $25,000 fine on Cosby and make him pay court costs. If ever he came up for parole, prosecutors want him to submit to a "psycho-sexual evaluation" that he had refused prior to sentencing. Cosby's lawyers asked for house arrest rather than prison time, arguing that imprisonment was overly punitive given his age. Cosby's first trial in 2017 ended in a mistrial when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. Soon after that proceeding, a series of women began leveling sexual misconduct allegations against influential men, launching the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements that have encouraged victims to speak up about their experiences.

Judge to sentence Bill Cosby for sexual assault, capping his downfall

Bill Cosby was marched out of court in shackles on Tuesday after a judge branded him a "predator" and sentenced him to between three and 10 years in prison for sexual assault, capping the downfall of the once-beloved comedian known as "America's Dad."

Cosby, 81, was found guilty in April of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for the drugging and sexual assault of his one-time friend Andrea Constand, a former Temple University administrator, at his Philadelphia home in 2004.

He is the first celebrity to be convicted of sexual abuse since the start of the #MeToo movement, the national reckoning with misconduct that has brought down dozens of powerful men in entertainment, politics and other fields.

Cosby must spend at least three years in a Pennsylvania prison before he becomes eligible for supervised release, though he could end up behind bars for up to a decade.

Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven O'Neill ordered Cosby to be jailed immediately, denying Cosby's request for bail while lawyers appeal the conviction.

He was escorted out a back door of the courthouse with his hands and feet shackled and driven away in a black sports utility vehicle.

Minutes earlier, Constand left the court with her arms folded, a smile spreading across her face as other women who have accused Cosby came to hug her. Several of those women spoke to reporters in the rain outside the courtroom.

"I wanted 30 years, but I'm very happy to know Mr Cosby will do time in prison," said Chelan Lasha, who gave tearful testimony in court about the time she says Cosby drugged and groped her in the 1980s.

O'Neill also fined Cosby $25,000 and ordered him to pay the costs of the prosecution. There was no visible reaction from the disgraced entertainer as he learned his fate.

"Equal justice under the law does not allow different treatment because of who he is or who he was," O'Neill said.

Cosby cemented his family-friendly reputation playing the affable Dr Cliff Huxtable in the 1980s television comedy "The Cosby Show."

"He hid behind Dr Cliff Huxtable," Kevin Steele, the county district attorney who led the prosecution, told reporters afterwards. "Before he was taken away in handcuffs, a lot of people believed this was who he was. We know otherwise."

After the sentencing, Andrew Wyatt, Cosby's spokesman, read a lengthy statement in which he decried what he called "the most racist and sexist trial in the history of the United States."

Sexually violent predator

O'Neill also decided to designate Cosby a "sexually violent predator" under Pennsylvania law.

Under that designation, Cosby will have to undergo monthly counselling and register as a sex offender with police for the rest of his life. Neighbours and schools will be notified of his address, certain movements and crimes, as will Constand.

When prosecutors told Cosby in court he would not have to inform Constand of his movements himself but that a proxy would do so, he replied: "Good!"

Cosby has denied any wrongdoing. Asked if he wanted to address the court with a statement before sentencing, Cosby declined through his lawyers. His lawyers had asked that Cosby be placed under house arrest, citing his age and frailty.

More than 50 women have accused Cosby of sexual abuse going back decades, with most complaints too old to prosecute. The Constand case was the only allegation that led to criminal charges.

Constand said in a written statement submitted to the court on Monday that the attack had turned her into a woman who was "stuck in a holding pattern for most of her adult life, unable to heal fully or to move forward."

"Bill Cosby took my beautiful, healthy young spirit and crushed it," she wrote.

Cosby's first trial in 2017 ended in a mistrial when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.

Prison officials will process Cosby at the nearby state prison in Schwenksville before determining in which of Pennsylvania's 22 male prisons he will serve his sentence, prison spokeswoman Amy Worden wrote in an email.

He will be one of 86 inmates over age 80 held by Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections, where the two oldest inmates are both 91, Worden said.

Bill Cosby was marched out of court in shackles on Tuesday after a judge branded him a "predator" and sentenced him to between three and 10 years in prison for sexual assault, capping the downfall of the once-beloved comedian known as "America's Dad.

Bill Cosby was marched out of court in shackles on Tuesday after a judge branded him a "predator" and sentenced him to between three and 10 years in prison for sexual assault, capping the downfall of the once-beloved comedian known as "America's Dad." Cosby, 81, was found guilty in April of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for the drugging and sexual assault of his one-time friend Andrea Constand, a former Temple University administrator, at his Philadelphia home in 2004. He is the first celebrity to be convicted of sexual abuse since the start of the #MeToo movement, the national reckoning with misconduct that has brought down dozens of powerful men in entertainment, politics and other fields. Cosby must spend at least three years in a Pennsylvania prison before he becomes eligible for supervised release, though he could end up behind bars for up to a decade. Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven O'Neill ordered Cosby to be jailed immediately, denying Cosby's request for bail while lawyers appeal the conviction. He was escorted out a back door of the courthouse with his hands and feet shackled and driven away in a black sports utility vehicle. Minutes earlier, Constand left the court with her arms folded, a smile spreading across her face as other women who have accused Cosby came to hug her. Several of those women spoke to reporters in the rain outside the courtroom. "I wanted 30 years, but I'm very happy to know Mr Cosby will do time in prison," said Chelan Lasha, who gave tearful testimony in court about the time she says Cosby drugged and groped her in the 1980s. O'Neill also fined Cosby $25,000 and ordered him to pay the costs of the prosecution. There was no visible reaction from the disgraced entertainer as he learned his fate. "Equal justice under the law does not allow different treatment because of who he is or who he was," O'Neill said. Cosby cemented his family-friendly reputation playing the affable Dr Cliff Huxtable in the 1980s television comedy "The Cosby Show." "He hid behind Dr Cliff Huxtable," Kevin Steele, the county district attorney who led the prosecution, told reporters afterwards. "Before he was taken away in handcuffs, a lot of people believed this was who he was. We know otherwise." After the sentencing, Andrew Wyatt, Cosby's spokesman, read a lengthy statement in which he decried what he called "the most racist and sexist trial in the history of the United States." Sexually violent predator O'Neill also decided to designate Cosby a "sexually violent predator" under Pennsylvania law. Under that designation, Cosby will have to undergo monthly counselling and register as a sex offender with police for the rest of his life. Neighbours and schools will be notified of his address, certain movements and crimes, as will Constand. When prosecutors told Cosby in court he would not have to inform Constand of his movements himself but that a proxy would do so, he replied: "Good!" Cosby has denied any wrongdoing. Asked if he wanted to address the court with a statement before sentencing, Cosby declined through his lawyers. His lawyers had asked that Cosby be placed under house arrest, citing his age and frailty. More than 50 women have accused Cosby of sexual abuse going back decades, with most complaints too old to prosecute. The Constand case was the only allegation that led to criminal charges. Constand said in a written statement submitted to the court on Monday that the attack had turned her into a woman who was "stuck in a holding pattern for most of her adult life, unable to heal fully or to move forward." "Bill Cosby took my beautiful, healthy young spirit and crushed it," she wrote. Cosby's first trial in 2017 ended in a mistrial when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. Prison officials will process Cosby at the nearby state prison in Schwenksville before determining in which of Pennsylvania's 22 male prisons he will serve his sentence, prison spokeswoman Amy Worden wrote in an email. He will be one of 86 inmates over age 80 held by Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections, where the two oldest inmates are both 91, Worden said.

Bill Cosby imprisoned for up to 10 years for sexual assault

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/west-asia/iranian-president-hassan-rouhani-slams-donald-trump-administration-over-sanctions-167698">Iranian President Rouhani slams Trump administration over sanctions</a>

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday lashed out at the sanctions reinstated by the Donald Trump-led United States administration, saying that they amounted to "economic terrorism" and "economic war", while speaking at the ongoing 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/irans-corrupt-dictatorship-plundering-its-people-pay-aggression-abroad-donald-trump-un-167667">Iran's 'corrupt dictatorship' is plundering its people: Trump at UN</a>

US President Donald Trump criticized Iran on Tuesday as a "corrupt dictatorship" that is plundering the Iranian people to pay for aggression abroad, using his speech to the United Nations General Assembly to lay down a tough message for Tehran.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bill-cosby-imprisoned-10-years-sexual-assault-167690">Bill Cosby imprisoned for up to 10 years for sexual assault</a>

Bill Cosby was marched out of court in shackles on Tuesday after a judge branded him a "predator" and sentenced him to between three and 10 years in prison for sexual assault, capping the downfall of the once-beloved comedian known as "America's Dad."

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/i-can-say-lot-dont-want-worsen-situation-pak-fm-qureshi-cancelled-talks-india-167692">I can say a lot but don't want to worsen situation: Pak FM Qureshi on cancelled talks with India&nbsp;</a>

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday reacted to India's decision of calling off talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States. Qureshi noted that he can a say a lot over the incident but that would only add to the existing issues and hamper peace.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-china-trade-war-dims-asias-2019-growth-outlook-adb-167703">US-China trade war dims Asia's 2019 growth outlook: ADB</a>

Developing Asia could grow more slowly than previously thought next year as the US-China trade war inflicts collateral damage on the region's export-reliant economies, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Wednesday.

Tightening global liquidity could also weigh on business activity by pushing up borrowing costs, while capital outflows are also a risk.

Iranian President Rouhani slams Trump administration over sanctions Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday lashed out at the sanctions reinstated by the Donald Trump-led United States administration, saying that they amounted to "economic terrorism" and "economic war", while speaking at the ongoing 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Iranian President Rouhani slams Trump administration over sanctions Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday lashed out at the sanctions reinstated by the Donald Trump-led United States administration, saying that they amounted to "economic terrorism" and "economic war", while speaking at the ongoing 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Iran's 'corrupt dictatorship' is plundering its people: Trump at UN US President Donald Trump criticized Iran on Tuesday as a "corrupt dictatorship" that is plundering the Iranian people to pay for aggression abroad, using his speech to the United Nations General Assembly to lay down a tough message for Tehran. Bill Cosby imprisoned for up to 10 years for sexual assault Bill Cosby was marched out of court in shackles on Tuesday after a judge branded him a "predator" and sentenced him to between three and 10 years in prison for sexual assault, capping the downfall of the once-beloved comedian known as "America's Dad." I can say a lot but don't want to worsen situation: Pak FM Qureshi on cancelled talks with India Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday reacted to India's decision of calling off talks with Pakistan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States. Qureshi noted that he can a say a lot over the incident but that would only add to the existing issues and hamper peace. US-China trade war dims Asia's 2019 growth outlook: ADB Developing Asia could grow more slowly than previously thought next year as the US-China trade war inflicts collateral damage on the region's export-reliant economies, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Wednesday. Tightening global liquidity could also weigh on business activity by pushing up borrowing costs, while capital outflows are also a risk.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Actor, comedian Bill Cosby arrived at a court in the American city of Philadelphia on Monday, for a hearing in a sexual assault case. 
 
According to TMZ, as soon as Cosby got out of his car angry protesters yelled at him and said, "Me too".&nbsp; 
 
It was indicative of the online movement where women came forward to share their tryst with sexual violence. 
 
Cosby`s wife Camille was absent. Previously, Cosby was released after furnishing a USD 1 million bail and had to wait until the next hearing. Cosby, 80, was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University basketball administrator Andrea Constand in a Philadelphia suburb in 2004.&nbsp; 
 
Currently, he is facing a maximum of 10 years in prison for each of the charges levelled against him. The comedian first went to trial last year, and the case ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to deliver a verdict.&nbsp;

Actor, comedian Bill Cosby arrived at a court in the American city of Philadelphia on Monday, for a hearing in a sexual assault case. According to TMZ, as soon as Cosby got out of his car angry protesters yelled at him and said, "Me too".

Actor, comedian Bill Cosby arrived at a court in the American city of Philadelphia on Monday, for a hearing in a sexual assault case. According to TMZ, as soon as Cosby got out of his car angry protesters yelled at him and said, "Me too". It was indicative of the online movement where women came forward to share their tryst with sexual violence. Cosby`s wife Camille was absent. Previously, Cosby was released after furnishing a USD 1 million bail and had to wait until the next hearing. Cosby, 80, was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University basketball administrator Andrea Constand in a Philadelphia suburb in 2004. Currently, he is facing a maximum of 10 years in prison for each of the charges levelled against him. The comedian first went to trial last year, and the case ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to deliver a verdict.

Bill Cosby charged with sexual harassment arrives at court for hearing

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled television’s Bill Cosby and Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski on Thursday as the Academy Awards presenter responded to sexual misconduct allegations roiling Hollywood.

Cosby and Polanski are the first known members expelled for violating a conduct code the Academy adopted in December following intense public pressure from hundreds of accusations of sexual harassment or assault in the entertainment industry.

The Academy said in a statement its Board of Governors met on Tuesday and voted to remove Cosby and Polanski, who had been members since 1996 and 1969, respectively.

“The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity,” the body whose 8,000 members vote on the Oscars said in the statement.

The expulsion comes as the entertainment industry grapples with misconduct allegations that have led to dozens of politicians, businessmen and entertainers stepping down or being dropped from creative projects, sparking the #MeToo social movement and the Time’s Up campaign against workplace harassment and equal pay.

Cosby, 80, who was known as “America’s Dad” for his role on popular 1980s TV comedy “The Cosby Show,” was convicted last week of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. He faces up to 30 years in prison, and his attorney has vowed to appeal the conviction.

Polanski, 84, who won the best director Oscar in 2003 for “The Pianist,” in 1977 admitted to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles.

The French-Polish director lives in France and fled the United States following pleading guilty for fear his deal with prosecutors would be overruled and he would get a lengthy prison term. Polanski’s case is ongoing.

His attorney Harland Braun said Polanski was not given the chance to present his case before the Academy.

“It’s just shocking that the Academy would expel someone without a fair hearing,” Bruan said in a telephone interview.

In response, the Academy pointed to its conduct code, which says the board “retains its independent duty and authority ... to address and take action on any matter.”

The Academy declined to say if Cosby and Polanski’s convictions played a role in their expulsion.

Four Academy members are now known to have been expelled. Once powerful producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled in October after numerous women accused him of decades-long sexual misconduct. Weinstein, 66, has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.

Actor Carmine Caridi was expelled in 2004 for distributing copies of films that are sent to members.

Cosby was convicted last week of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004 while Roman Polanski who won the best director Oscar in 2003 for “The Pianist,” in 1977 admitted to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled television’s Bill Cosby and Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski on Thursday as the Academy Awards presenter responded to sexual misconduct allegations roiling Hollywood. Cosby and Polanski are the first known members expelled for violating a conduct code the Academy adopted in December following intense public pressure from hundreds of accusations of sexual harassment or assault in the entertainment industry. The Academy said in a statement its Board of Governors met on Tuesday and voted to remove Cosby and Polanski, who had been members since 1996 and 1969, respectively. “The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity,” the body whose 8,000 members vote on the Oscars said in the statement. The expulsion comes as the entertainment industry grapples with misconduct allegations that have led to dozens of politicians, businessmen and entertainers stepping down or being dropped from creative projects, sparking the #MeToo social movement and the Time’s Up campaign against workplace harassment and equal pay. Cosby, 80, who was known as “America’s Dad” for his role on popular 1980s TV comedy “The Cosby Show,” was convicted last week of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. He faces up to 30 years in prison, and his attorney has vowed to appeal the conviction. Polanski, 84, who won the best director Oscar in 2003 for “The Pianist,” in 1977 admitted to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles. The French-Polish director lives in France and fled the United States following pleading guilty for fear his deal with prosecutors would be overruled and he would get a lengthy prison term. Polanski’s case is ongoing. His attorney Harland Braun said Polanski was not given the chance to present his case before the Academy. “It’s just shocking that the Academy would expel someone without a fair hearing,” Bruan said in a telephone interview. In response, the Academy pointed to its conduct code, which says the board “retains its independent duty and authority ... to address and take action on any matter.” The Academy declined to say if Cosby and Polanski’s convictions played a role in their expulsion. Four Academy members are now known to have been expelled. Once powerful producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled in October after numerous women accused him of decades-long sexual misconduct. Weinstein, 66, has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone. Actor Carmine Caridi was expelled in 2004 for distributing copies of films that are sent to members.

Academy of Motion Pictures expels Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski

Bill Cosby's wife of more than 50 years jumped to his defence on Thursday, blaming his sexual-assault conviction last week on a corrupt prosecutor, a pliant press and a lying accuser that she said led to a false verdict and stirred a lynch mob against him.

Camille Cosby said her husband, once a beloved actor and comedian known as America's Dad for his role in a popular 1980s TV show, was railroaded by a self-serving system that she said demanded a criminal investigation of his prosecutors.

"This is mob justice, not real justice," she said in a statement issued by her publicist. "This tragedy must be undone not just for Bill Cosby, but for the country."

A jury of seven men and five women convicted Cosby, 80, on April 26 of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, 45, in 2004. He faces up to 10 years in prison for each of three counts of aggravated indecent assault.

Cosby's lawyers said they would appeal the verdict. He remains free on $1 million bail.

Camille Cosby, 74, who attended her husband's three-week trial in Norristown, Pennsylvania only during closing arguments, claimed that Constand had concocted the sexual assault claim in the hope of winning a civil judgment against the actor.

"I firmly believe her recent testimony during the trial was perjured as was shown at trial, it was unsupported by any evidence and riddled with innumerable, dishonest contradictions," she said, echoing an argument that defence lawyers had made during the trial.

Constand was one of more than 50 women who have accused Cosby of sexually assaulting them. The rest of them had passed the legal time limit for prosecution when they stepped forward with their claims.

Unlike Cosby's first trial last June in which jurors were unable to reach a verdict, the judge at the second trial allowed the testimonies of five of the other accusers, who said Cosby had assaulted them in a similar way to how Constand said he had assaulted her.

Without mentioning him by name, Camille Cosby accused Montgomery County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Kevin Steele "and his cohorts" of advancing themselves professionally and economically at her husband's expense.

The press, she claimed, had demonized her husband and unquestioningly accepted his accusers' allegations "without any attendant proof."

She invoked the names of two other African American men -- Emmett Till and Darryl Hunt -- who were famously falsely accused of sexually assaulting white women

Camille Cosby said her husband, once a beloved actor and comedian known as America's Dad for his role in a popular 1980s TV show, was railroaded by a self-serving system that she said demanded a criminal investigation of his prosecutors.

Bill Cosby's wife of more than 50 years jumped to his defence on Thursday, blaming his sexual-assault conviction last week on a corrupt prosecutor, a pliant press and a lying accuser that she said led to a false verdict and stirred a lynch mob against him. Camille Cosby said her husband, once a beloved actor and comedian known as America's Dad for his role in a popular 1980s TV show, was railroaded by a self-serving system that she said demanded a criminal investigation of his prosecutors. "This is mob justice, not real justice," she said in a statement issued by her publicist. "This tragedy must be undone not just for Bill Cosby, but for the country." A jury of seven men and five women convicted Cosby, 80, on April 26 of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, 45, in 2004. He faces up to 10 years in prison for each of three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby's lawyers said they would appeal the verdict. He remains free on $1 million bail. Camille Cosby, 74, who attended her husband's three-week trial in Norristown, Pennsylvania only during closing arguments, claimed that Constand had concocted the sexual assault claim in the hope of winning a civil judgment against the actor. "I firmly believe her recent testimony during the trial was perjured as was shown at trial, it was unsupported by any evidence and riddled with innumerable, dishonest contradictions," she said, echoing an argument that defence lawyers had made during the trial. Constand was one of more than 50 women who have accused Cosby of sexually assaulting them. The rest of them had passed the legal time limit for prosecution when they stepped forward with their claims. Unlike Cosby's first trial last June in which jurors were unable to reach a verdict, the judge at the second trial allowed the testimonies of five of the other accusers, who said Cosby had assaulted them in a similar way to how Constand said he had assaulted her. Without mentioning him by name, Camille Cosby accused Montgomery County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Kevin Steele "and his cohorts" of advancing themselves professionally and economically at her husband's expense. The press, she claimed, had demonized her husband and unquestioningly accepted his accusers' allegations "without any attendant proof." She invoked the names of two other African American men -- Emmett Till and Darryl Hunt -- who were famously falsely accused of sexually assaulting white women

Bill Cosby's wife slams prosecutor, accusers for husband's guilty verdict

Bill Cosby, used to the high life as one of America's biggest stars, will likely see his entourage of aides replaced by an inmate paid pennies to help the legally blind comedian navigate life behind bars after he is sentenced for sexual assault.

Cosby, 80, faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced in the next three months for drugging and raping Andrea Constand, 45, in 2004 at his sprawling compound outside Philadelphia. He is appealing the verdict, which could potentially delay his imprisonment for months or even years.

Should he eventually leave the world of private jets and luxury hotel suites, the disgraced star of the 1980s television hit "The Cosby Show" will become probably the best-known celebrity to hear the gates of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections shut behind him, according to a department spokeswoman, Susan McNaughton.

She said previous and current high-profile inmates have included legislators, ex-police officers and Jerry Sandusky, a former Pennsylvania State University football coach convicted in 2012 of being a serial child molester.

Another is Mumia Abu-Jamal, a political activist convicted in the 1981 murder of a Philadelphia police officer.

Incarceration will be a stark change for the comedian, whose net worth was estimated in 2016 by Fortune magazine at $400 million, with $100 million invested in real estate, including homes in New York, Massachusetts and Nevada. He also owned a private jet, artwork and dozens of classic cars.

Once Cosby arrives behind bars, he will face an "incarceration reception process" to determine his healthcare and psychological treatment needs, his security level, and to which of 22 male prisons he will be sent.

He will be one of just 83 inmates aged 80 or older, and one of very few who are legally blind, McNaughton said.

Such prisoners are typically assigned a sighted inmate, who is paid just 19 to 42 cents an hour, to assist them and lead them through the facility.

"Certainly Mr. Cosby would be fine," she said. "Of course they (the inmate assistants) are screened, and there is a lot of monitoring and supervision."

Like most inmates, Cosby will likely be allowed to receive and send emails, which are also screened for security purposes. Most inmates use prison-approved tablet computers.

Cosby's prison assistant might also help sort any fan mail that passes a security screening.

"No drugs or contraband or influence of escape," McNaughton said. "If it clears through the mailroom, it's delivered to the inmate."

Cosby, 80, faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced in the next three months for drugging and raping Andrea Constand, 45, in 2004 at his sprawling compound outside Philadelphia

Bill Cosby, used to the high life as one of America's biggest stars, will likely see his entourage of aides replaced by an inmate paid pennies to help the legally blind comedian navigate life behind bars after he is sentenced for sexual assault. Cosby, 80, faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced in the next three months for drugging and raping Andrea Constand, 45, in 2004 at his sprawling compound outside Philadelphia. He is appealing the verdict, which could potentially delay his imprisonment for months or even years. Should he eventually leave the world of private jets and luxury hotel suites, the disgraced star of the 1980s television hit "The Cosby Show" will become probably the best-known celebrity to hear the gates of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections shut behind him, according to a department spokeswoman, Susan McNaughton. She said previous and current high-profile inmates have included legislators, ex-police officers and Jerry Sandusky, a former Pennsylvania State University football coach convicted in 2012 of being a serial child molester. Another is Mumia Abu-Jamal, a political activist convicted in the 1981 murder of a Philadelphia police officer. Incarceration will be a stark change for the comedian, whose net worth was estimated in 2016 by Fortune magazine at $400 million, with $100 million invested in real estate, including homes in New York, Massachusetts and Nevada. He also owned a private jet, artwork and dozens of classic cars. Once Cosby arrives behind bars, he will face an "incarceration reception process" to determine his healthcare and psychological treatment needs, his security level, and to which of 22 male prisons he will be sent. He will be one of just 83 inmates aged 80 or older, and one of very few who are legally blind, McNaughton said. Such prisoners are typically assigned a sighted inmate, who is paid just 19 to 42 cents an hour, to assist them and lead them through the facility. "Certainly Mr. Cosby would be fine," she said. "Of course they (the inmate assistants) are screened, and there is a lot of monitoring and supervision." Like most inmates, Cosby will likely be allowed to receive and send emails, which are also screened for security purposes. Most inmates use prison-approved tablet computers. Cosby's prison assistant might also help sort any fan mail that passes a security screening. "No drugs or contraband or influence of escape," McNaughton said. "If it clears through the mailroom, it's delivered to the inmate."

From luxury to life behind bars: What Bill Cosby faces in prison

Comedian Bill Cosby was convicted on Thursday of drugging and sexually assaulting a onetime friend in 2004, marking the first such conviction of a celebrity since the #MeToo movement that has brought down rich and powerful men for their treatment of women. 
 
Cosby, 80, best known as the lovable father from the 1980s TV hit "The Cosby Show," faces up to 10 years in prison for each of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand, 45, following a three-week trial at the Montgomery County courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. 
 
After maintaining decorum throughout the trial, Cosby exploded following the verdict when prosecutors asked the judge to take him into custody, saying he was a flight risk in part because he owned a plane. 
 
"He doesn`t have a plane, you asshole!" Cosby responded in a booming voice as he leapt to feet. 
 
District Attorney Kevin Steele later remarked that with the outburst, "You got to see who he really was." 
 
As the verdict was read, Cosby looked down with a sad expression. Lili Bernard, one of his many accusers, began sobbing. Constand sat stone-faced. 
 
Judge Steven O`Neill ruled Cosby could remain out of jail on $1 million bail pending sentencing at a later date, as long as he surrendered his passport and remained at home. 
Cosby then left the courthouse with his lawyers and publicist. 
 
"The fight will go on," defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau told reporters, adding he would appeal the conviction. 
 
Sentencing was expected within 60 to 90 days after Cosby submits to a "sexually violent predator assessment." 
 
Although he could get up to 10 years for each count, state sentencing guidelines suggest a term of less than 10 years. 
 
The conviction marks the downfall of a man once celebrated as "America`s Dad" but whose reputation was ruined after some 50 women accused him of similar offences going back decades. 
Cosby had been a transcendent figure in show business, coming up as a black comedian during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and winning over white audiences with a clean routine.&nbsp 
 
He went on to several successful television series when African-Americans were largely absent from TV. In "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992, he played the wise and witty Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, the father of an affluent black family. 
 
All the while, his accusers say, he had been drugging and molesting women.&nbsp 
 
Only one of those cases was recent enough to be eligible for prosecution, that of Constand, a former administrator for the women`s basketball team at Temple University, Cosby`s alma mater. She had no comment after the verdict. 
 
"The most important person in our team was Andrea Constand," Steele, the district attorney, told reporters. "She was the first courageous person who stood up in public and went to authorities and said, `Bill Cosby drugged and raped me.`" 
 
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents 33 of the Cosby accusers, rejoiced that Cosby was found "guilty, guilty, guilty." 
 
"We are so happy that finally we can say, women are believed, and not only on #MeToo, but in a court of law," Allred told reporters. 
 
Other Cosby accusers celebrated the verdict with hugs, cries, and applause. 
 
"I feel like my faith in humanity is restored," Bernard said. 
 
The seven-man, five-woman jury reached a unanimous verdict after deliberating for 14 hours over two days. 
 
Less than a year ago, a different jury was deadlocked after six days of deliberations on the same charges, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial.&nbsp 
 
Soon after the first trial, a series of women levelled sexual assault and harassment accusations against men in media, entertainment and politics, giving rise to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements that encouraged women go public with personal stories of abuse, in some cases after years of silence. 
 
Like many of Cosby`s other accusers, Constand said she was drugged and violated while unable to defend herself. 
 
Cosby has said any sexual encounters were consensual, and his lawyers portrayed the accusers as fabricating stories in search of wealth and fame. 
 
"Mob rule is not due process," defence lawyer Kathleen Bliss said, referring to the #MeToo movement.&nbsp 
 
U.S. President Donald Trump has been accused by several women of sexual misconduct, including after the release during the 2016 presidential campaign of a video in which he had spoken in vulgar terms about trying to have sex with women. He later called it "locker room banter" and his campaign issued an apology to anyone who was offended. 
 
Trump, whose inauguration and first anniversary as president were met with nationwide women`s protests, denies accusations of sexual misconduct and accuses rival Democrats and the media of a smear campaign. He faces a defamation lawsuit from Summer Zervos, a contestant on his former reality show who accuses him of sexually harassing her. Trump`s lawyer has said her accusations are false and politically motivated. 
 
Constand testified she went to Cosby`s house to discuss a potential career change when he gave her three blue pills he said would relax her. 
 
She said the pills made her feel woozy, and when she was jolted awake Cosby was digitally penetrating her vagina, touching her breasts and masturbating himself with her hand. 
The prosecution case was bolstered by the five additional accusers who were allowed to testify, each saying they, too, were drugged and violated. In the first trial, O`Neill allowed only one accuser besides Constand to take the witness stand.

Comedian Bill Cosby was convicted on Thursday of drugging and sexually assaulting a onetime friend in 2004

Comedian Bill Cosby was convicted on Thursday of drugging and sexually assaulting a onetime friend in 2004, marking the first such conviction of a celebrity since the #MeToo movement that has brought down rich and powerful men for their treatment of women. Cosby, 80, best known as the lovable father from the 1980s TV hit "The Cosby Show," faces up to 10 years in prison for each of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand, 45, following a three-week trial at the Montgomery County courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. After maintaining decorum throughout the trial, Cosby exploded following the verdict when prosecutors asked the judge to take him into custody, saying he was a flight risk in part because he owned a plane. "He doesn`t have a plane, you asshole!" Cosby responded in a booming voice as he leapt to feet. District Attorney Kevin Steele later remarked that with the outburst, "You got to see who he really was." As the verdict was read, Cosby looked down with a sad expression. Lili Bernard, one of his many accusers, began sobbing. Constand sat stone-faced. Judge Steven O`Neill ruled Cosby could remain out of jail on $1 million bail pending sentencing at a later date, as long as he surrendered his passport and remained at home. Cosby then left the courthouse with his lawyers and publicist. "The fight will go on," defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau told reporters, adding he would appeal the conviction. Sentencing was expected within 60 to 90 days after Cosby submits to a "sexually violent predator assessment." Although he could get up to 10 years for each count, state sentencing guidelines suggest a term of less than 10 years. The conviction marks the downfall of a man once celebrated as "America`s Dad" but whose reputation was ruined after some 50 women accused him of similar offences going back decades. Cosby had been a transcendent figure in show business, coming up as a black comedian during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and winning over white audiences with a clean routine. He went on to several successful television series when African-Americans were largely absent from TV. In "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992, he played the wise and witty Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, the father of an affluent black family. All the while, his accusers say, he had been drugging and molesting women. Only one of those cases was recent enough to be eligible for prosecution, that of Constand, a former administrator for the women`s basketball team at Temple University, Cosby`s alma mater. She had no comment after the verdict. "The most important person in our team was Andrea Constand," Steele, the district attorney, told reporters. "She was the first courageous person who stood up in public and went to authorities and said, `Bill Cosby drugged and raped me.`" Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents 33 of the Cosby accusers, rejoiced that Cosby was found "guilty, guilty, guilty." "We are so happy that finally we can say, women are believed, and not only on #MeToo, but in a court of law," Allred told reporters. Other Cosby accusers celebrated the verdict with hugs, cries, and applause. "I feel like my faith in humanity is restored," Bernard said. The seven-man, five-woman jury reached a unanimous verdict after deliberating for 14 hours over two days. Less than a year ago, a different jury was deadlocked after six days of deliberations on the same charges, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial. Soon after the first trial, a series of women levelled sexual assault and harassment accusations against men in media, entertainment and politics, giving rise to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements that encouraged women go public with personal stories of abuse, in some cases after years of silence. Like many of Cosby`s other accusers, Constand said she was drugged and violated while unable to defend herself. Cosby has said any sexual encounters were consensual, and his lawyers portrayed the accusers as fabricating stories in search of wealth and fame. "Mob rule is not due process," defence lawyer Kathleen Bliss said, referring to the #MeToo movement. U.S. President Donald Trump has been accused by several women of sexual misconduct, including after the release during the 2016 presidential campaign of a video in which he had spoken in vulgar terms about trying to have sex with women. He later called it "locker room banter" and his campaign issued an apology to anyone who was offended. Trump, whose inauguration and first anniversary as president were met with nationwide women`s protests, denies accusations of sexual misconduct and accuses rival Democrats and the media of a smear campaign. He faces a defamation lawsuit from Summer Zervos, a contestant on his former reality show who accuses him of sexually harassing her. Trump`s lawyer has said her accusations are false and politically motivated. Constand testified she went to Cosby`s house to discuss a potential career change when he gave her three blue pills he said would relax her. She said the pills made her feel woozy, and when she was jolted awake Cosby was digitally penetrating her vagina, touching her breasts and masturbating himself with her hand. The prosecution case was bolstered by the five additional accusers who were allowed to testify, each saying they, too, were drugged and violated. In the first trial, O`Neill allowed only one accuser besides Constand to take the witness stand.

Bill Cosby, once beloved 'America's Dad,' convicted of sexual assault

Prosecutors wrapped up their sexual assault case against comedian Bill Cosby on Thursday as experts offered conflicting testimony about the drugs he is accused of giving a then-friend before allegedly raping her.

Judge Steven O'Neill said he anticipated Cosby's fate would be in the hands of the jury next week. Lawyers said deliberations could begin as early as late Monday in an attempt to reach a unanimous verdict, which eluded the jury in Cosby's first trial. It ended in a mistrial in June.

Andrea Constand, 45, contends the former star of "The Cosby Show" gave her three little blue pills he said would help her relax and then sexually assaulted her at his home outside Philadelphia in 2004.

Cosby, 80, says any sexual contact with Constand was consensual. He could face 10 years in prison if convicted.

The questions of what drug Cosby gave Constand and the effects it had are central to the case.

Timothy Rohrig, a forensic toxicologist from Wichita, Kansas, called as the final prosecution witness, testified about the effects of Benadryl and Quaaludes, which Cosby in a 2005 deposition said he used to seduce women. Rohrig said the pills could have left Constand feeling incapacitated.

Constand testified last week that after swallowing the pills she experienced double vision, slurred her words, had dry mouth, and her legs felt "rubbery," even paralysed. She was an administrator for the women's basketball team at Cosby's alma mater, Temple University.

"All these symptoms she described, and the timing of the symptoms, were consistent with the ingestion of diphenhydramine," Rohrig said, using the generic name for Benadryl. The drug is commonly used for allergies.

The same symptoms also could have been caused by Quaaludes, which additionally make the user "very sleepy," he testified at Montgomery Count Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Quaaludes are a sedative.

About 50 women have accused Cosby of sexually assaulting them, sometimes after plying them with drugs or alcohol in a series of alleged attacks dating back decades. Constand's charge is the only one recent enough to be the subject of criminal prosecution.

Cosby's defence team, which has portrayed Constand as a money-hungry con artist, aimed to cast doubt on Constand's claims the pills left her so impaired she could not resist.

A toxicologist testifying for the defence, Dr&nbspHarry Milman, called Benadryl "one of the safest drugs on the market" and said Quaaludes were not available in the Philadelphia area in 2004.

Prosecutor M&nbspStewart Ryan, during cross-examination, said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele prosecuted a drug case in 2002 that resulted in the seizure of thousands of illegal Quaaludes.

Prosecutors wrapped up their sexual assault case against comedian Bill Cosby on Thursday as experts offered conflicting testimony about the drugs he is accused of giving a then-friend before allegedly raping her

Prosecutors wrapped up their sexual assault case against comedian Bill Cosby on Thursday as experts offered conflicting testimony about the drugs he is accused of giving a then-friend before allegedly raping her. Judge Steven O'Neill said he anticipated Cosby's fate would be in the hands of the jury next week. Lawyers said deliberations could begin as early as late Monday in an attempt to reach a unanimous verdict, which eluded the jury in Cosby's first trial. It ended in a mistrial in June. Andrea Constand, 45, contends the former star of "The Cosby Show" gave her three little blue pills he said would help her relax and then sexually assaulted her at his home outside Philadelphia in 2004. Cosby, 80, says any sexual contact with Constand was consensual. He could face 10 years in prison if convicted. The questions of what drug Cosby gave Constand and the effects it had are central to the case. Timothy Rohrig, a forensic toxicologist from Wichita, Kansas, called as the final prosecution witness, testified about the effects of Benadryl and Quaaludes, which Cosby in a 2005 deposition said he used to seduce women. Rohrig said the pills could have left Constand feeling incapacitated. Constand testified last week that after swallowing the pills she experienced double vision, slurred her words, had dry mouth, and her legs felt "rubbery," even paralysed. She was an administrator for the women's basketball team at Cosby's alma mater, Temple University. "All these symptoms she described, and the timing of the symptoms, were consistent with the ingestion of diphenhydramine," Rohrig said, using the generic name for Benadryl. The drug is commonly used for allergies. The same symptoms also could have been caused by Quaaludes, which additionally make the user "very sleepy," he testified at Montgomery Count Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Quaaludes are a sedative. About 50 women have accused Cosby of sexually assaulting them, sometimes after plying them with drugs or alcohol in a series of alleged attacks dating back decades. Constand's charge is the only one recent enough to be the subject of criminal prosecution. Cosby's defence team, which has portrayed Constand as a money-hungry con artist, aimed to cast doubt on Constand's claims the pills left her so impaired she could not resist. A toxicologist testifying for the defence, Dr&nbspHarry Milman, called Benadryl "one of the safest drugs on the market" and said Quaaludes were not available in the Philadelphia area in 2004. Prosecutor M&nbspStewart Ryan, during cross-examination, said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele prosecuted a drug case in 2002 that resulted in the seizure of thousands of illegal Quaaludes.

Cosby sex assault retrial to go to jury next week: Judge

The judge in Bill Cosby`s sexual assault trial on Wednesday refused a defense request that he declare a mistrial after one of the accusers called as a prosecution witness blurted out, "You know what you did, don`t you, Mr. Cosby?" 
 
Cosby, 80, once a beloved stand-up comedian and television star known for his family-friendly material, is on trial on charges of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a 45-year-old former friend, and colleague, in 2004. 
 
Three other accusers testified at a Pennsylvania court on Wednesday that they were drugged and sexually assaulted by Cosby in the 1980s when Cosby was at the height of his popularity as the star of ' The Cosby Show.'&nbsp; Two more were expected to testify later in the trial, in addition to Constand. 
 
One of those accusers, aspiring actress and model Chelan Lasha, surprised the courtroom with her outburst directed at Cosby while the jury of seven men and five women listened. Cosby`s defence team immediately asked for a mistrial, fearing her remark could unduly influence the jury. Montgomery County Judge Steven O`Neill denied the motion but warned a tearful Lasha against repeating such conduct.&nbsp; 
 
Cosby betrayed little emotion, occasionally making brief facial expressions. Lasha said Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1986 when she was 17 and just out of high school in Las Vegas. 
 
"I was a child and a good girl, and he took it all away from me," Lasha said, weeping through parts of her testimony. "I trusted him." 
 
In all, some 50 women have accused Cosby of molestation going back decades. All but Constand`s case were too old to be prosecuted, and Cosby`s first trial ended in a mistrial last June due to a deadlocked jury. 
 
Cosby denies the charge of aggravated indecent assault of Constand, saying any sexual contact was consensual. His lawyers have portrayed Constand as a gold-digging con artist. 
 
Since the first trial, the #MeToo movement exploded, prompting an increasing number of women to come forward with accusations of harassment or assault from rich and famous men. Another accuser, Janice Baker-Kinney, said Cosby drugged and raped her in Reno, Nevada, in 1982, when she was 24.&nbsp; 
 
During a game of backgammon, Cosby offered her a pill she believes was a Quaalude, then a second one, Baker-Kinney said.&nbsp; 
 
She next recalled waking up on a couch with her clothes undone and Cosby fondling her. Later she recalled waking up in bed with Cosby, both of them naked. "There was a sticky wetness between my legs, and it felt like I had had sex the night before," Baker-Kinney said.

Cosby denies the charge of aggravated indecent assault of Constand, saying any sexual contact was consensual.

The judge in Bill Cosby`s sexual assault trial on Wednesday refused a defense request that he declare a mistrial after one of the accusers called as a prosecution witness blurted out, "You know what you did, don`t you, Mr. Cosby?" Cosby, 80, once a beloved stand-up comedian and television star known for his family-friendly material, is on trial on charges of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a 45-year-old former friend, and colleague, in 2004. Three other accusers testified at a Pennsylvania court on Wednesday that they were drugged and sexually assaulted by Cosby in the 1980s when Cosby was at the height of his popularity as the star of ' The Cosby Show.' Two more were expected to testify later in the trial, in addition to Constand. One of those accusers, aspiring actress and model Chelan Lasha, surprised the courtroom with her outburst directed at Cosby while the jury of seven men and five women listened. Cosby`s defence team immediately asked for a mistrial, fearing her remark could unduly influence the jury. Montgomery County Judge Steven O`Neill denied the motion but warned a tearful Lasha against repeating such conduct. Cosby betrayed little emotion, occasionally making brief facial expressions. Lasha said Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1986 when she was 17 and just out of high school in Las Vegas. "I was a child and a good girl, and he took it all away from me," Lasha said, weeping through parts of her testimony. "I trusted him." In all, some 50 women have accused Cosby of molestation going back decades. All but Constand`s case were too old to be prosecuted, and Cosby`s first trial ended in a mistrial last June due to a deadlocked jury. Cosby denies the charge of aggravated indecent assault of Constand, saying any sexual contact was consensual. His lawyers have portrayed Constand as a gold-digging con artist. Since the first trial, the #MeToo movement exploded, prompting an increasing number of women to come forward with accusations of harassment or assault from rich and famous men. Another accuser, Janice Baker-Kinney, said Cosby drugged and raped her in Reno, Nevada, in 1982, when she was 24. During a game of backgammon, Cosby offered her a pill she believes was a Quaalude, then a second one, Baker-Kinney said. She next recalled waking up on a couch with her clothes undone and Cosby fondling her. Later she recalled waking up in bed with Cosby, both of them naked. "There was a sticky wetness between my legs, and it felt like I had had sex the night before," Baker-Kinney said.

Bill Cosby accused of drugging and sexually assaulting former-colleague Andrea Constand

Comedian Bill Cosby`s defence team urged a judge on Tuesday to bar 19 accusers from testifying at his upcoming sexual assault retrial, saying the burgeoning #MeToo movement against sexual harassment would unfairly prejudice a jury against him.

Lawyers for the actor, best known for his starring role in the 1980s TV hit &quot;The Cosby Show,&quot; said the 19 women should be blocked from testifying to ensure Cosby receives a fair retrial on charges he drugged and sexually assaulted Andrea Constand, a former administrator of the women`s basketball team at his alma mater, Temple University.&nbsp;

&quot;The purpose would just be to enrage the jury beyond what is going on outside the courtroom with the #MeToo movement and other things that have nothing to do with Mr. Cosby at all,&quot; defence attorney Becky James told Judge Steven O`Neill during the second day of a pretrial hearing in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

&quot;In that environment, allowing the 19 to testify would be hugely prejudicial,&rdquo; she said of the retrial slated to begin with jury selection on March 29.

Cosby, 80, is accused of sexually assaulting Constand, 44, at his home near Philadelphia between Dec. 30, 2003, and Jan. 20, 2004.&nbsp;

Constand is one of more than 50 women who have accused him of assaults dating back decades, all accusations but hers are too old to be the subject of criminal prosecution.

Cosby has repeatedly denied assaulting anyone, saying any sexual encounter was consensual. His first criminal trial ended in a mistrial in June.

O`Neill allowed one of the 19 women to testify in that trial. In general, a defendant`s history is not admissible as evidence that he or she committed a particular crime.

The Cosby case qualifies as an exception, prosecutors argued, because the way he abused the 19 women was repetitive and consistent.

&quot;Nineteen prior bad acts are needed to demonstrate that these events are not random and remote,&quot; Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Jappe said in her rebuttal argument on Tuesday.

O`Neill said he was unlikely to make a decision on the request on Tuesday, needing time to review evidence.

As the morning hearing ran into its second hour without a break, O`Neill broke with his normal practice to say that anyone who needed to leave the courtroom to use the restroom would be allowed to return, adding, &quot;I don`t see anyone squirming.&quot;

&quot;I`m squirming,&quot; Cosby said. &quot;But it`s OK.&quot;

Lawyers for the actor said the 19 women should be blocked from testifying

Comedian Bill Cosby`s defence team urged a judge on Tuesday to bar 19 accusers from testifying at his upcoming sexual assault retrial, saying the burgeoning #MeToo movement against sexual harassment would unfairly prejudice a jury against him. Lawyers for the actor, best known for his starring role in the 1980s TV hit "The Cosby Show," said the 19 women should be blocked from testifying to ensure Cosby receives a fair retrial on charges he drugged and sexually assaulted Andrea Constand, a former administrator of the women`s basketball team at his alma mater, Temple University. "The purpose would just be to enrage the jury beyond what is going on outside the courtroom with the #MeToo movement and other things that have nothing to do with Mr. Cosby at all," defence attorney Becky James told Judge Steven O`Neill during the second day of a pretrial hearing in Norristown, Pennsylvania. "In that environment, allowing the 19 to testify would be hugely prejudicial,” she said of the retrial slated to begin with jury selection on March 29. Cosby, 80, is accused of sexually assaulting Constand, 44, at his home near Philadelphia between Dec. 30, 2003, and Jan. 20, 2004. Constand is one of more than 50 women who have accused him of assaults dating back decades, all accusations but hers are too old to be the subject of criminal prosecution. Cosby has repeatedly denied assaulting anyone, saying any sexual encounter was consensual. His first criminal trial ended in a mistrial in June. O`Neill allowed one of the 19 women to testify in that trial. In general, a defendant`s history is not admissible as evidence that he or she committed a particular crime. The Cosby case qualifies as an exception, prosecutors argued, because the way he abused the 19 women was repetitive and consistent. "Nineteen prior bad acts are needed to demonstrate that these events are not random and remote," Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Jappe said in her rebuttal argument on Tuesday. O`Neill said he was unlikely to make a decision on the request on Tuesday, needing time to review evidence. As the morning hearing ran into its second hour without a break, O`Neill broke with his normal practice to say that anyone who needed to leave the courtroom to use the restroom would be allowed to return, adding, "I don`t see anyone squirming." "I`m squirming," Cosby said. "But it`s OK."

Bill Cosby lawyers cite #MeToo in move to block 19 accusers from trial

Bill Cosby&rsquo;s 44-year-old daughter, Ensa Cosby, died in Massachusetts on Friday, a family spokesman confirmed on Monday.&nbsp;

Ensa, Bill&#39;s third child with his wife Camille Olivia Hanks died on Friday night, February 23, from a chronic kidney ailment.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Cosby family thanks many people for their prayers for their beloved and beautiful Ensa,&rdquo; the spokesman said in a statement.

Ensa, last year, came to her father&#39;s defense after he was accused of sexually assaulting numerous women over the years.&nbsp;

In May 2017 when she released a statement with her older sister, Erinn, on the popular radio show, &ldquo;The Breakfast Club,&rdquo; proclaiming their father&rsquo;s innocence against the multiple rape allegations lodged against him as he was about to go on trial.

&ldquo;The accusations against my father have been one-sided since the beginning,&rdquo; Ensa said in an audio statement aired during the morning show. &ldquo;I strongly believe my father is innocent of the crimes alleged against him and I believe that racism has played a big role in all aspects of this scandal.&rdquo;

&ldquo;My father has been publicly lynched in the media,&rdquo; she added.

Cosby, 80, is scheduled to appear in a Pennsylvania court next week for a hearing on pretrial motions ahead of his scheduled retrial on April 2. He faces criminal charges that he drugged and sexually assaulted a former administrator of the women&rsquo;s basketball team at his alma mater, Temple University, in 2004.

His first trial ended in a hung jury. Cosby has denied all wrongdoing, saying that any sexual encounters with his accusers were consensual.

Bill Cosby lost another of his five children in 1997 when his 27-year-old son, Ennis, a graduate student at Columbia University, was shot to death while changing a flat tire near a freeway off ramp in Los Angeles. A 22-year-old man was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison without&nbsp;

Ensa, Bill's third child with his wife Camille Olivia Hanks died on Friday night, February 23, died from a chronic kidney ailment

Bill Cosby’s 44-year-old daughter, Ensa Cosby, died in Massachusetts on Friday, a family spokesman confirmed on Monday. Ensa, Bill's third child with his wife Camille Olivia Hanks died on Friday night, February 23, from a chronic kidney ailment. “The Cosby family thanks many people for their prayers for their beloved and beautiful Ensa,” the spokesman said in a statement. Ensa, last year, came to her father's defense after he was accused of sexually assaulting numerous women over the years. In May 2017 when she released a statement with her older sister, Erinn, on the popular radio show, “The Breakfast Club,” proclaiming their father’s innocence against the multiple rape allegations lodged against him as he was about to go on trial. “The accusations against my father have been one-sided since the beginning,” Ensa said in an audio statement aired during the morning show. “I strongly believe my father is innocent of the crimes alleged against him and I believe that racism has played a big role in all aspects of this scandal.” “My father has been publicly lynched in the media,” she added. Cosby, 80, is scheduled to appear in a Pennsylvania court next week for a hearing on pretrial motions ahead of his scheduled retrial on April 2. He faces criminal charges that he drugged and sexually assaulted a former administrator of the women’s basketball team at his alma mater, Temple University, in 2004. His first trial ended in a hung jury. Cosby has denied all wrongdoing, saying that any sexual encounters with his accusers were consensual. Bill Cosby lost another of his five children in 1997 when his 27-year-old son, Ennis, a graduate student at Columbia University, was shot to death while changing a flat tire near a freeway off ramp in Los Angeles. A 22-year-old man was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison without

Bill Cosby's daughter, Ensa, dies at 44

Disgraced American entertainer Bill Cosby returned to the stage Monday for the first time in nearly three years, telling jokes just months before his scheduled retrial for alleged sexual assault.

The 80-year-old pioneering African American actor and comedian spent around an hour performing at the LaRose Jazz Club in Philadelphia at an event honouring drummer and jazz great, Tony Williams.

He sat on a wooden chair, in front of the jazz quartet, dressed casually in dark pants and grey hoodie inscribed with the words &quot;Hello Friend&quot; spelt out in multicoloured capital letters.

There was no heckling and the audience was generally supportive, clapping and at times laughing, but the fewer than 50 people, filling only half a small venue underscored how far he has fallen from grace.

For a few minutes, he sat behind the drum kit and played some drums, before delivering a very short stand-up routine, joking about getting old and going blind, interacting with an older couple in the audience.

Announcing the event only shortly before it was due to begin, his spokesman said the intention was to &quot;honour his fans with a historic performance&quot; at what was a public event with tickets sold on the door.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/the-sad-case-of-joke-theft-in-comedy-shows-632#photo-34639">The sad case of &#39;joke theft&#39; in comedy</a>

It was the first time Cosby performed in public since May 2015, when CNN reported that he was interrupted twice in Atlanta after a string of women had already come forward to accuse him of sexual assault.

He was indicted in December 2015 and went on trial in June 2017, accused of drugging and molesting a former university basketball official at his Philadelphia home in 2004.

Jackson&#39;s lawyer&nbsp;

But the judge declared a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on three counts of aggravated indecent assault after more than 50 hours of deliberations in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

The deadlock was a victory of sorts for the comedian, now frail and isolated, who risked spending the rest of his life in prison if convicted.

But the trial irrevocably damaged the once towering icon of US popular culture, loved by millions as &quot;America&#39;s Dad&quot; and best known for his seminal role as a father and obstetrician on hit 1984-92 TV series &quot;The Cosby Show.&quot;

In a rambling and at times confused interview with Sirius XM radio broadcast before the trial began, Cosby said he felt he had &quot;an awful lot to offer&quot; in terms of writing and performing.

Jury selection for the retrial is to begin March 29. Cosby&#39;s new defense lawyer is Tom Mesereau, the celebrity Los Angeles attorney who got Michael Jackson acquitted of child molestation in 2005.

Around 60 women have publicly accused the Emmy-winning actor of being a serial sexual predator, but most of the alleged abuse happened too long ago to prosecute, meaning that the trial last year concerned only one of the alleged victims.

The actor denies the charges, saying his relations with Canadian Andrea Constand were consensual.

She has said he gave her pills that left her semi-conscious, then made sexual advances -- a story not unlike those recounted by many of the other accusers.

The 80-year-old pioneering African American actor and comedian spent around an hour performing at the LaRose Jazz Club in Philadelphia

Disgraced American entertainer Bill Cosby returned to the stage Monday for the first time in nearly three years, telling jokes just months before his scheduled retrial for alleged sexual assault. The 80-year-old pioneering African American actor and comedian spent around an hour performing at the LaRose Jazz Club in Philadelphia at an event honouring drummer and jazz great, Tony Williams. He sat on a wooden chair, in front of the jazz quartet, dressed casually in dark pants and grey hoodie inscribed with the words "Hello Friend" spelt out in multicoloured capital letters. There was no heckling and the audience was generally supportive, clapping and at times laughing, but the fewer than 50 people, filling only half a small venue underscored how far he has fallen from grace. For a few minutes, he sat behind the drum kit and played some drums, before delivering a very short stand-up routine, joking about getting old and going blind, interacting with an older couple in the audience. Announcing the event only shortly before it was due to begin, his spokesman said the intention was to "honour his fans with a historic performance" at what was a public event with tickets sold on the door. Also read: The sad case of 'joke theft' in comedy It was the first time Cosby performed in public since May 2015, when CNN reported that he was interrupted twice in Atlanta after a string of women had already come forward to accuse him of sexual assault. He was indicted in December 2015 and went on trial in June 2017, accused of drugging and molesting a former university basketball official at his Philadelphia home in 2004. Jackson's lawyer But the judge declared a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on three counts of aggravated indecent assault after more than 50 hours of deliberations in Norristown, Pennsylvania. The deadlock was a victory of sorts for the comedian, now frail and isolated, who risked spending the rest of his life in prison if convicted. But the trial irrevocably damaged the once towering icon of US popular culture, loved by millions as "America's Dad" and best known for his seminal role as a father and obstetrician on hit 1984-92 TV series "The Cosby Show." In a rambling and at times confused interview with Sirius XM radio broadcast before the trial began, Cosby said he felt he had "an awful lot to offer" in terms of writing and performing. Jury selection for the retrial is to begin March 29. Cosby's new defense lawyer is Tom Mesereau, the celebrity Los Angeles attorney who got Michael Jackson acquitted of child molestation in 2005. Around 60 women have publicly accused the Emmy-winning actor of being a serial sexual predator, but most of the alleged abuse happened too long ago to prosecute, meaning that the trial last year concerned only one of the alleged victims. The actor denies the charges, saying his relations with Canadian Andrea Constand were consensual. She has said he gave her pills that left her semi-conscious, then made sexual advances -- a story not unlike those recounted by many of the other accusers.

Bill Cosby performs for first time since sexual assault charges

A Pennsylvania judge on Wednesday released the names of the jurors who failed to reach a unanimous verdict in Bill Cosby&#39;s sexual assault trial but set strict limits on what they can tell the public about their unsuccessful deliberations.

Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven O&#39;Neill granted a request from several media companies to reveal the jurors&#39; identities, which were kept secret during the trial due to its extraordinary publicity.

O&#39;Neill said he would instruct each juror not to discuss anything their fellow jurors said or any votes for conviction or acquittal other jurors made during six days of deliberations.

The names of the jurors were emailed by the court to media organisations.

Cosby, 79, is facing a second trial for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home near Philadelphia in 2004. The case is the only criminal prosecution to emerge from dozens of similar allegations against the entertainer and comedian.

Both prosecutors and defence lawyers had urged O&#39;Neill not to disclose the jurors&#39; names, arguing that news coverage of their deliberations could have an effect potential jurors for the retrial, making it more difficult to find an unbiased panel.

Thus far, only a single alternate juror, one of six who heard the evidence but did not participate in deliberations, has spoken out, telling a Pittsburgh radio station he would have voted to convict Cosby.

Without more details from jurors, it may be impossible to determine why the jury was unable to come to a consensus despite 52 hours of deliberations, longer than the trial itself. Jurors asked to rehear lengthy excerpts of trial testimony but eventually told O&#39;Neill they were hopelessly deadlocked.

O&#39;Neill did not ask the 12 jurors how they were split.

The original jury was already brought across the state from Pittsburgh to Montgomery County out of concern about the amount of pretrial publicity the case generated.

Judge Steven O'Neill granted a request from several media companies to reveal the jurors' identities, which were kept secret during the trial due to its extraordinary publicity

A Pennsylvania judge on Wednesday released the names of the jurors who failed to reach a unanimous verdict in Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial but set strict limits on what they can tell the public about their unsuccessful deliberations. Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven O'Neill granted a request from several media companies to reveal the jurors' identities, which were kept secret during the trial due to its extraordinary publicity. O'Neill said he would instruct each juror not to discuss anything their fellow jurors said or any votes for conviction or acquittal other jurors made during six days of deliberations. The names of the jurors were emailed by the court to media organisations. Cosby, 79, is facing a second trial for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home near Philadelphia in 2004. The case is the only criminal prosecution to emerge from dozens of similar allegations against the entertainer and comedian. Both prosecutors and defence lawyers had urged O'Neill not to disclose the jurors' names, arguing that news coverage of their deliberations could have an effect potential jurors for the retrial, making it more difficult to find an unbiased panel. Thus far, only a single alternate juror, one of six who heard the evidence but did not participate in deliberations, has spoken out, telling a Pittsburgh radio station he would have voted to convict Cosby. Without more details from jurors, it may be impossible to determine why the jury was unable to come to a consensus despite 52 hours of deliberations, longer than the trial itself. Jurors asked to rehear lengthy excerpts of trial testimony but eventually told O'Neill they were hopelessly deadlocked. O'Neill did not ask the 12 jurors how they were split. The original jury was already brought across the state from Pittsburgh to Montgomery County out of concern about the amount of pretrial publicity the case generated.

Judge releases names of deadlocked jurors in Cosby sex assault case

A US judge declared a mistrial Saturday in Bill Cosby&#39;s sexual assault case after the jury announced that they remained deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict against the fallen television star.

It was a stunning development for the 79-year-old pioneering black entertainer who had risked spending the rest of his life in prison if convicted on drugging and molesting a woman at his home 13 years ago.

Around 60 women have publicly accused Cosby in recent years of being a serial sexual predator alleging that he drugged and assaulted them over a span of 40 years across the United States.

But 44-year-old Andrea Constand&#39;s alleged assault was the only criminal case brought against him as most of the alleged abuse happened too long ago to prosecute.

But if the man once adored by millions as &quot;America&#39;s Dad&quot; escaped conviction Saturday, prosecutor Kevin Steele said that he intended to seek a re-trial as authorised in such cases under the law.

The seven-man, five-woman panel had spent around 53 hours deliberating in Norristown, Pennsylvania, longer than the amount of time dedicated at the trial to testimony and legal arguments.

They first informed Judge Steven O&#39;Neill on Thursday that they were deadlocked, but were instructed to return to their deliberation room and try harder, without being given a deadline or timeframe.&nbsp;

Less than 48 hours later, and working into the weekend on a Saturday -- the 11th day of the trial -- the panel informed the judge that they were still deadlocked on all three counts against Cosby.&nbsp;

Legal experts had always said the he-said, she-said nature of the case was always going to be difficult to prove in court, not least because it happened so long ago and due to a lack of physical evidence.

The trial has irrevocably damaged his legacy as a towering figure in US popular culture, once adored for his seminal role as a lovable father and obstetrician on hit TV series &quot;The Cosby Show.&quot;

While the prosecution spent five days, painstakingly trying to build their case, the defense called just one witness to the stand and rested their case in just a handful of minutes.

&#39;Humiliated&#39; 
 
Cosby had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine on each of three counts of indecent aggravated assault.

The trial heaped disgrace on the award-winning actor who was lauded a hero by African Americans and revered by whites for smashing through racial barriers in a five-decade entertainment career.

Cosby attained his greatest fame for his role as Cliff Huxtable on &quot;The Cosby Show&quot; from 1984 to 1992.&nbsp;

One of the most popular television series in history, it jettisoned a man raised by a maid and a US Navy cook into a life of fame and wealth.

But behind the celebrity gloss, the role model and years of educational philanthropy, lurked sinister allegations.

Constand was composed on the stand under a fierce barrage of cross-examination from the defense, which sought to portray their relationship as consensual, and Cosby&#39;s accuser as a liar.

At the time a 30-year-old director of women&#39;s basketball at Temple University, where the actor sat on the board of trustees, she said the assault left her &quot;humiliated&quot; by someone she had thought of as a friend and mentor.

The Canadian said Cosby gave her three pills and wine before touching her breasts, putting his fingers in her vagina and putting her hand on his erect penis after she sought his advice about moving to Canada and switching careers.

After taking the pills, Constand said, she had trouble talking and difficulty moving and was suffering double vision, before briefly losing consciousness.

&quot;In my head, I was trying to get my hands to move, get my legs to move, but I was frozen and those messages didn&#39;t get there,&quot; she said, her voice breaking.

Cosby maintained in his original 2005 deposition that he gave Constand the antihistamine Benadryl to relieve stress and had consensual relations, accusing her of lying. But he also admitted obtaining sedatives with a view to having sex.

At trial, he refused to testify. 
 
(AFP)

The judge declared a mistrial after the jury announced that they remained deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict against the fallen television star

A US judge declared a mistrial Saturday in Bill Cosby's sexual assault case after the jury announced that they remained deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict against the fallen television star. It was a stunning development for the 79-year-old pioneering black entertainer who had risked spending the rest of his life in prison if convicted on drugging and molesting a woman at his home 13 years ago. Around 60 women have publicly accused Cosby in recent years of being a serial sexual predator alleging that he drugged and assaulted them over a span of 40 years across the United States. But 44-year-old Andrea Constand's alleged assault was the only criminal case brought against him as most of the alleged abuse happened too long ago to prosecute. But if the man once adored by millions as "America's Dad" escaped conviction Saturday, prosecutor Kevin Steele said that he intended to seek a re-trial as authorised in such cases under the law. The seven-man, five-woman panel had spent around 53 hours deliberating in Norristown, Pennsylvania, longer than the amount of time dedicated at the trial to testimony and legal arguments. They first informed Judge Steven O'Neill on Thursday that they were deadlocked, but were instructed to return to their deliberation room and try harder, without being given a deadline or timeframe. Less than 48 hours later, and working into the weekend on a Saturday -- the 11th day of the trial -- the panel informed the judge that they were still deadlocked on all three counts against Cosby. Legal experts had always said the he-said, she-said nature of the case was always going to be difficult to prove in court, not least because it happened so long ago and due to a lack of physical evidence. The trial has irrevocably damaged his legacy as a towering figure in US popular culture, once adored for his seminal role as a lovable father and obstetrician on hit TV series "The Cosby Show." While the prosecution spent five days, painstakingly trying to build their case, the defense called just one witness to the stand and rested their case in just a handful of minutes. 'Humiliated' Cosby had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine on each of three counts of indecent aggravated assault. The trial heaped disgrace on the award-winning actor who was lauded a hero by African Americans and revered by whites for smashing through racial barriers in a five-decade entertainment career. Cosby attained his greatest fame for his role as Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992. One of the most popular television series in history, it jettisoned a man raised by a maid and a US Navy cook into a life of fame and wealth. But behind the celebrity gloss, the role model and years of educational philanthropy, lurked sinister allegations. Constand was composed on the stand under a fierce barrage of cross-examination from the defense, which sought to portray their relationship as consensual, and Cosby's accuser as a liar. At the time a 30-year-old director of women's basketball at Temple University, where the actor sat on the board of trustees, she said the assault left her "humiliated" by someone she had thought of as a friend and mentor. The Canadian said Cosby gave her three pills and wine before touching her breasts, putting his fingers in her vagina and putting her hand on his erect penis after she sought his advice about moving to Canada and switching careers. After taking the pills, Constand said, she had trouble talking and difficulty moving and was suffering double vision, before briefly losing consciousness. "In my head, I was trying to get my hands to move, get my legs to move, but I was frozen and those messages didn't get there," she said, her voice breaking. Cosby maintained in his original 2005 deposition that he gave Constand the antihistamine Benadryl to relieve stress and had consensual relations, accusing her of lying. But he also admitted obtaining sedatives with a view to having sex. At trial, he refused to testify. (AFP)

US judge declares mistrial in Cosby sexual assault case

The main accuser in Bill Cosby&#39;s trial gave emotional testimony in court on Tuesday, delivering her first public remarks about the night he allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her 13 years ago.

In one of America&#39;s biggest celebrity trials in years, the disgraced megastar faces three counts of aggravated indecent assault, which each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.

Around 60 women have publicly accused the Emmy-winning television star and comedian of being a serial sexual predator for decades, ending his career and leaving him isolated by friends and celebrities.

But his fate rests on the allegations of just one, Andrea Constand, about an encounter at his Philadelphia mansion in January 2014. It is the only criminal case against him as most of the alleged abuse happened too long ago to prosecute.

&quot;I wanted it to stop,&quot; 44-year-old Constand told the second day of the trial in Norristown, Pennsylvania about the evening in question.

Constand&#39;s testimony is central to the case against the disgraced 79-year-old star of &quot;The Cosby Show,&quot; one of the most popular shows in the history of television, which legal experts say will essentially boil down to her word against his.

She says the pioneering black comedian, whom she considered a mentor, gave her three pills and wine before sexually assaulting her on his couch after she sought his advice about moving to Canada and switching careers.

The then-30-year-old director of women&#39;s basketball at Temple University -- where Cosby was serving on the board of trustees -- said she had asked the television star if the pills were herbal, and that he indicated they were.

&#39;Humiliated&#39; 
 
&quot;I said I trust you,&quot; she recalled saying at the time.

About half an hour later, Constand said, she had trouble talking and difficulty moving and was suffering double vision. After briefly losing consciousness, she regained it as Cosby was touching her private parts, she testified.

&quot;In my head, I was trying to get my hands to move, get my legs to move, but I was frozen and those messages didn&#39;t get there,&quot; she said, her voice breaking.

Tuesday marked her first public appearance since she submitted to a deposition in December 2005, after waiting a year to report the alleged assault.

She initially settled the case with a civil suit in 2006, but prosecutors in Montgomery County re-opened in 2015 saying new evidence had come to light.

Smiling, dressed in a pale blue jacket and a white top, she answered initial questions from assistant district attorney Kristen Feden calmly but her demeanor changed when the testimony switched to the alleged assault.

&quot;I felt really humiliated and I was really confused,&quot; she said after gathering herself together.

Cosby maintains only that he gave Constand (the antihistamine) Benadryl to relieve stress, insists their sexual relations were consensual and accuses her of lying.

Cosby, for years feted by millions as &quot;America&#39;s Dad&quot; for his role as a loveable obstetrician and father on &quot;The Cosby Show&quot; says he is now legally blind. 
 
&nbsp;&#39;Mentor&#39; 
 
Constand said she knew him about 16 months before alleged assault, and testified that on a previous evening at his home, the actor had tried to unfasten her pants.

She said she moved away, told him that she was not interested in a physical relationship and left the house.

&quot;He was somebody I trusted, a mentor and somewhat of an older figure to me,&quot; she explained to the seven-man, five-woman jury.

Constand said that when she later called Cosby to ask him why he had given her the pills he replied: &quot;I thought you had an orgasm, didn&#39;t you?&quot;

After Constand told her mother and her mother challenged Cosby, the actor told her the same thing &quot;that he felt I had an orgasm,&quot; she testified.

Asked by the prosecution why she did not report the alleged assault immediately, Constand replied: &quot;He was a trustee, he was an alumni there and I believed he was supporting many of the athletics programs.&quot;

The prosecution has painted Cosby as a sexual predator who established trust with younger women before incapacitating them with drugs and wine.

The defense argues that Cosby&#39;s infidelity to his wife made him &quot;vulnerable&quot; to accusations and has sought to undermine Constand&#39;s credibility, portraying their relationship as consensual with many meetings and phone calls.

The jury will be sequestered for the duration of the trial, which is expected to last about two weeks. 
 
(AFP)

The prosecution says Cosby is a sexual predator who established trust with younger women before incapacitating them with drugs and wine

The main accuser in Bill Cosby's trial gave emotional testimony in court on Tuesday, delivering her first public remarks about the night he allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her 13 years ago. In one of America's biggest celebrity trials in years, the disgraced megastar faces three counts of aggravated indecent assault, which each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine. Around 60 women have publicly accused the Emmy-winning television star and comedian of being a serial sexual predator for decades, ending his career and leaving him isolated by friends and celebrities. But his fate rests on the allegations of just one, Andrea Constand, about an encounter at his Philadelphia mansion in January 2014. It is the only criminal case against him as most of the alleged abuse happened too long ago to prosecute. "I wanted it to stop," 44-year-old Constand told the second day of the trial in Norristown, Pennsylvania about the evening in question. Constand's testimony is central to the case against the disgraced 79-year-old star of "The Cosby Show," one of the most popular shows in the history of television, which legal experts say will essentially boil down to her word against his. She says the pioneering black comedian, whom she considered a mentor, gave her three pills and wine before sexually assaulting her on his couch after she sought his advice about moving to Canada and switching careers. The then-30-year-old director of women's basketball at Temple University -- where Cosby was serving on the board of trustees -- said she had asked the television star if the pills were herbal, and that he indicated they were. 'Humiliated' "I said I trust you," she recalled saying at the time. About half an hour later, Constand said, she had trouble talking and difficulty moving and was suffering double vision. After briefly losing consciousness, she regained it as Cosby was touching her private parts, she testified. "In my head, I was trying to get my hands to move, get my legs to move, but I was frozen and those messages didn't get there," she said, her voice breaking. Tuesday marked her first public appearance since she submitted to a deposition in December 2005, after waiting a year to report the alleged assault. She initially settled the case with a civil suit in 2006, but prosecutors in Montgomery County re-opened in 2015 saying new evidence had come to light. Smiling, dressed in a pale blue jacket and a white top, she answered initial questions from assistant district attorney Kristen Feden calmly but her demeanor changed when the testimony switched to the alleged assault. "I felt really humiliated and I was really confused," she said after gathering herself together. Cosby maintains only that he gave Constand (the antihistamine) Benadryl to relieve stress, insists their sexual relations were consensual and accuses her of lying. Cosby, for years feted by millions as "America's Dad" for his role as a loveable obstetrician and father on "The Cosby Show" says he is now legally blind. 'Mentor' Constand said she knew him about 16 months before alleged assault, and testified that on a previous evening at his home, the actor had tried to unfasten her pants. She said she moved away, told him that she was not interested in a physical relationship and left the house. "He was somebody I trusted, a mentor and somewhat of an older figure to me," she explained to the seven-man, five-woman jury. Constand said that when she later called Cosby to ask him why he had given her the pills he replied: "I thought you had an orgasm, didn't you?" After Constand told her mother and her mother challenged Cosby, the actor told her the same thing "that he felt I had an orgasm," she testified. Asked by the prosecution why she did not report the alleged assault immediately, Constand replied: "He was a trustee, he was an alumni there and I believed he was supporting many of the athletics programs." The prosecution has painted Cosby as a sexual predator who established trust with younger women before incapacitating them with drugs and wine. The defense argues that Cosby's infidelity to his wife made him "vulnerable" to accusations and has sought to undermine Constand's credibility, portraying their relationship as consensual with many meetings and phone calls. The jury will be sequestered for the duration of the trial, which is expected to last about two weeks. (AFP)

Bill Cosby trial: Victim gives emotional testimony in court

One of about a dozen women who previously accused President-elect Donald Trump of making unwanted sexual advances filed a lawsuit against him in New York on Tuesday, alleging he had made false and defamatory statements about her in rejecting the accusation, causing her emotional and economic harm.

The lawsuit filed by Summer Zervos, a one-time contestant on Trump&#39;s reality television show &quot;The Apprentice,&quot; is focused on a stream of denials Trump aimed at her and other women accusers last October, just weeks before the November 8 presidential election, when Zervos and others came forward to accuse the then-candidate of making unwanted sexual advances.

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks called the allegations &quot;absurd.&quot;

&ldquo;More of the same from Gloria Allred,&quot; said Hicks, referring to Zervos&#39; high-profile attorney. &quot;There is no truth to this absurd story.&quot;

At the time the women made their allegations, Trump, a Republican, who went on to win the election and who takes office on Friday, adamantly denied all the accusations in posts on Twitter, statements, interviews and comments at rallies. He suggested at one rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 14 that the accusers were fabricating their stories for publicity or to damage his campaign.

With regard to Zervos specifically, Trump told the rally in Charlotte just hours after she made her allegations that it was &quot;not hard to find a small handful of people willing to make false smears for personal fame, who knows maybe for financial reasons, political purposes,&rdquo; according to the lawsuit.

&quot;Mr. Trump&#39;s false, defamatory statements about Ms. Zervos &ndash; that, among other things, she made up her descriptions of Mr&nbsp;Trump&#39;s misconduct as a hoax, and that she is creating a &#39;phony&#39; story just so that she can be famous &ndash; have been deeply detrimental to Ms. Zervos&#39;s reputation, honor and dignity,&rdquo; the lawsuit stated.

At a news conference in Los Angeles announcing the lawsuit on Tuesday, Zervos said she wanted Trump to apologise.

&quot;Since Mr. Trump has not issued a retraction as I requested, he has therefore left me with no alternative other than to sue him in order to vindicate my reputation,&quot; Zervos said. Her lawsuit said she was seeking &quot;all possible remedies,&quot; including the apology and retraction&nbsp;from Trump.

Allred, who also represents a number of women who have accused comedian Bill Cosby of sexual misconduct, raised the possibility at the news conference that Trump might be required to give a deposition in the case.

The lawsuit said Trump kissed Zervos without her consent at his office in New York in December 2007 and later at a hotel in Beverly Hills, California, kissed her, touched her breast and tried to get her to lie on a bed during a meeting about a possible job. She and the other women came forward after a video from 2005 surfaced showing Trump boasting of making unwanted advances toward women including grabbing women by the genitals &ndash; a video that he later apologised for but said was simply &ldquo;locker room talk&rdquo; and was not his actual behaviour.

(Reuters)

Summer Zervos, former contestant on Trump's TV show 'The Apprentice', said he had been defamatory in rejecting the accusation

One of about a dozen women who previously accused President-elect Donald Trump of making unwanted sexual advances filed a lawsuit against him in New York on Tuesday, alleging he had made false and defamatory statements about her in rejecting the accusation, causing her emotional and economic harm. The lawsuit filed by Summer Zervos, a one-time contestant on Trump's reality television show "The Apprentice," is focused on a stream of denials Trump aimed at her and other women accusers last October, just weeks before the November 8 presidential election, when Zervos and others came forward to accuse the then-candidate of making unwanted sexual advances. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks called the allegations "absurd." “More of the same from Gloria Allred," said Hicks, referring to Zervos' high-profile attorney. "There is no truth to this absurd story." At the time the women made their allegations, Trump, a Republican, who went on to win the election and who takes office on Friday, adamantly denied all the accusations in posts on Twitter, statements, interviews and comments at rallies. He suggested at one rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 14 that the accusers were fabricating their stories for publicity or to damage his campaign. With regard to Zervos specifically, Trump told the rally in Charlotte just hours after she made her allegations that it was "not hard to find a small handful of people willing to make false smears for personal fame, who knows maybe for financial reasons, political purposes,” according to the lawsuit. "Mr. Trump's false, defamatory statements about Ms. Zervos – that, among other things, she made up her descriptions of Mr Trump's misconduct as a hoax, and that she is creating a 'phony' story just so that she can be famous – have been deeply detrimental to Ms. Zervos's reputation, honor and dignity,” the lawsuit stated. At a news conference in Los Angeles announcing the lawsuit on Tuesday, Zervos said she wanted Trump to apologise. "Since Mr. Trump has not issued a retraction as I requested, he has therefore left me with no alternative other than to sue him in order to vindicate my reputation," Zervos said. Her lawsuit said she was seeking "all possible remedies," including the apology and retraction from Trump. Allred, who also represents a number of women who have accused comedian Bill Cosby of sexual misconduct, raised the possibility at the news conference that Trump might be required to give a deposition in the case. The lawsuit said Trump kissed Zervos without her consent at his office in New York in December 2007 and later at a hotel in Beverly Hills, California, kissed her, touched her breast and tried to get her to lie on a bed during a meeting about a possible job. She and the other women came forward after a video from 2005 surfaced showing Trump boasting of making unwanted advances toward women including grabbing women by the genitals – a video that he later apologised for but said was simply “locker room talk” and was not his actual behaviour. (Reuters)

Woman sues Trump for defamation over sexual assault denial

Bill Cosby&#39;s lawyers will ask a Pennsylvania state judge on Tuesday to keep more than a dozen women who have accused the comedian of sexual assault off the witness stand at his trial on charges of molesting a former basketball coach at his alma mater.

More than 60 women have accused the 79-year-old entertainer, once beloved by Americans as the father on the 1980s TV hit &quot;The Cosby Show,&quot; of sexually assaulting them, often after plying them with drugs and alcohol, in a series of attacks dating back decades.

A surprising and sad fall&nbsp;from grace

The Cosby Show was important for, among other reasons, portraying an African American family as upper-middle class&nbsp;at a time when American TV&nbsp;was acutely short of such depictions of black families. Cosby&nbsp;was known for being safe&nbsp;because of his fatherly image playing Doctor&nbsp;Huxtable&nbsp;on TV, and offscreen he had a habit of making moral pronouncements that now stand in stark contrast to his alleged crimes.&nbsp;

In 2008 Cosby went on a nationwide tour emphasising the need for self reliance in the African American community rather than protesting systemic racism.&nbsp;As Ta-nehisi Coates put it in <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/05/-this-is-how-we-lost-to-the-white-man/306774/">The Atlantic</a>: &quot;Instead of focusing on some abstract notion of equality, he argues,&nbsp;blacks need to cleanse their culture, embrace personal responsibility, and reclaim the traditions that fortified them in the past.&quot; Cosby lamented for a bygone era: &quot;I&quot;m talking about a time when we protected our women and protected our children.&quot;

&nbsp;

Establishing a pattern

Despite the fact that Cosby has more than 60 accusers, only one of those claims resulted in criminal charges, filed against Cosby days before the statute of limitations was to expire. Andrea Constand, a former basketball coach at Cosby&#39;s alma mater Temple University, said he gave her pills before assaulting her at his Pennsylvania house in 2004.

Prosecutors have asked Judge Steven O&#39;Neill of Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania to allow 13 other women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault to testify at trial in order to show he engaged in a pattern of drugging and attacking his alleged victims.

Cosby has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. O&#39;Neill has scheduled two days of hearings on the proposed witnesses and other pre-trial matters.

In general, prosecutors are barred from introducing evidence of a defendant&#39;s unrelated prior bad acts for fear it could prejudice the jury. On rare occasions, however, judges will allow it if the evidence shows a clear and longstanding pattern of behavior.

Prosecutors are also seeking permission to use Cosby&#39;s sworn testimony from a deposition during Constand&#39;s 2005 civil lawsuit, in which Cosby acknowledged providing women with medication and then having consensual sexual encounters with them.

&nbsp;

Courtroom strategy

Cosby&#39;s lawyers have asked O&#39;Neill to bar that deposition from the trial, arguing that Cosby only agreed to testify after the then-Montgomery County district attorney assured him no criminal charges would be brought.

In addition, his lawyers have mounted yet another attempt to dismiss the case, this time based on the argument that prosecutors waited too long to bring the case.

In court papers filed last week, his attorneys said that Cosby is legally blind and has memory problems, preventing him from fully participating in preparing his own defense.

The trial is set for June 2017.

(With inputs from Reuters)

More than 60 women have accused the once beloved comedian and TV icon of plying them with drugs before committing rape

Bill Cosby's lawyers will ask a Pennsylvania state judge on Tuesday to keep more than a dozen women who have accused the comedian of sexual assault off the witness stand at his trial on charges of molesting a former basketball coach at his alma mater. More than 60 women have accused the 79-year-old entertainer, once beloved by Americans as the father on the 1980s TV hit "The Cosby Show," of sexually assaulting them, often after plying them with drugs and alcohol, in a series of attacks dating back decades. A surprising and sad fall from grace The Cosby Show was important for, among other reasons, portraying an African American family as upper-middle class at a time when American TV was acutely short of such depictions of black families. Cosby was known for being safe because of his fatherly image playing Doctor Huxtable on TV, and offscreen he had a habit of making moral pronouncements that now stand in stark contrast to his alleged crimes. In 2008 Cosby went on a nationwide tour emphasising the need for self reliance in the African American community rather than protesting systemic racism. As Ta-nehisi Coates put it in The Atlantic: "Instead of focusing on some abstract notion of equality, he argues, blacks need to cleanse their culture, embrace personal responsibility, and reclaim the traditions that fortified them in the past." Cosby lamented for a bygone era: "I"m talking about a time when we protected our women and protected our children." Establishing a pattern Despite the fact that Cosby has more than 60 accusers, only one of those claims resulted in criminal charges, filed against Cosby days before the statute of limitations was to expire. Andrea Constand, a former basketball coach at Cosby's alma mater Temple University, said he gave her pills before assaulting her at his Pennsylvania house in 2004. Prosecutors have asked Judge Steven O'Neill of Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania to allow 13 other women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault to testify at trial in order to show he engaged in a pattern of drugging and attacking his alleged victims. Cosby has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. O'Neill has scheduled two days of hearings on the proposed witnesses and other pre-trial matters. In general, prosecutors are barred from introducing evidence of a defendant's unrelated prior bad acts for fear it could prejudice the jury. On rare occasions, however, judges will allow it if the evidence shows a clear and longstanding pattern of behavior. Prosecutors are also seeking permission to use Cosby's sworn testimony from a deposition during Constand's 2005 civil lawsuit, in which Cosby acknowledged providing women with medication and then having consensual sexual encounters with them. Courtroom strategy Cosby's lawyers have asked O'Neill to bar that deposition from the trial, arguing that Cosby only agreed to testify after the then-Montgomery County district attorney assured him no criminal charges would be brought. In addition, his lawyers have mounted yet another attempt to dismiss the case, this time based on the argument that prosecutors waited too long to bring the case. In court papers filed last week, his attorneys said that Cosby is legally blind and has memory problems, preventing him from fully participating in preparing his own defense. The trial is set for June 2017. (With inputs from Reuters)

Bill Cosby's lawyers seek to bar some alleged victims from sexual assault trial

Disgraced US megastar&nbsp;Bill&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;is due to stand trial for sexual assault on June 5, 2017 in what could see up to 13 other alleged victims testify against the award-winning comedian turned pariah.

Judge Steven O&#39;Neill set the date after the 79-year-old pioneering black comedian made multiple attempts to head off the possibility of a trial stemming from one alleged incident at his Philadelphia home in 2004.

But O&#39;Neill advised lawyers that the trial could start even earlier if schedules permit. He also said that given the defense assertion that&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;is blind, the defendant may require special assistance in court.

Andrea Constand, who worked for the Temple University basketball team at the time, alleges thatCosby&nbsp;plied her with pills and wine, then sat her down on a couch at his Philadelphia home where he assaulted her.

Cosby&nbsp;says he gave her a pill, but insists their relations with consensual. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted.

Dressed in a pinstripe jacket and gray pants,&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;had appeared animated and engaged in conversation with his lawyers before Tuesday&#39;s hearing at Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, northwest of Philadelphia.

But the prospective trial cements a brutal fall from grace for the once treasured father figure and apparent model citizen who smashed through racial barriers and delighted audiences with his gentle, self-deprecating humor.

In recent years, more than 50 women have publicly accused him of being a sexual predator spanning four decades, making remarkably similar allegations that he fed them sedatives and alcohol that made them unable to resist his advances.

$1 million bail

The vast majority of the alleged abuses happened too long ago to prosecute, making the Constand case the only criminal charge brought against&nbsp;Cosby.

Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele told the court that he wants up to 13 other alleged victims to testify at trial. The judge has yet to agree and&nbsp;Cosby&#39;s legal team will likely put up fierce resistance.

The defense vowed their client would continue &quot;the fight for his rights&quot; and accused a lawyer representing other alleged sexual assault victims of waging a campaign&nbsp;built &quot;on&nbsp;racial bias&nbsp;and prejudice.&quot;

&quot;When the media repeats her accusations&nbsp;-- with no evidence, no trial and no jury -- we are moved backwards as a country and away from&nbsp;the America that our&nbsp;civil&nbsp;rights leaders&nbsp;sacrificed so much to create,&quot; they said.

Those allegations have seen celebrity pals and millions more malign the legend who attained his greatest fame for his role as a lovable obstetrician and family man in the hit 1980s television sitcom &quot;The&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;Show.&quot;

The Constand case was initially settled by a civil suit in 2006 but prosecutors reopened claiming that new evidence had come to light.

The former star posted bail at $1 million in the case last December, but has yet to enter a plea.

The Cosby show

If he pleads guilty,&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;could avoid the enormous publicity that will come with one of America&#39;s most famous entertainers going on trial.

In her original deposition in January 2005, Constand said&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;plied her with pills and wine, then sat her down on a couch, where the actor allegedly fondled her breasts, put his fingers in her vagina and put her hand on his erect penis.

Cosby&#39;s legal team mock Constand&#39;s credibility, saying she chopped and changed her evidence, and omitted from the final version lying down on a bed next to the actor and later visiting his home for dinner.

Constand, who now lives in Canada, has yet to appear at any public hearing.

Cosby&#39;s most famous role was as Cliff Huxtable, the affable father of an upper middle class black family in New York, in &quot;The&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;Show&quot; from 1984 to 1992.

It was one of the most popular TV series of all time and jettisoned the actor into a life of fame and millions, following a humble childhood during which he was raised by a maid and a US Navy cook.

Cosby&nbsp;served in the Navy himself and won an athletic scholarship to Temple, before moving into comedy. In addition to television, he wrote books and appeared in movies.

His wife Camille has stood by his side. The couple have five children. Their son Ennis was shot dead in 1997 while changing a flat tire in California. 
 
(AFP)

The American comedian faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted

Disgraced US megastar Bill Cosby is due to stand trial for sexual assault on June 5, 2017 in what could see up to 13 other alleged victims testify against the award-winning comedian turned pariah. Judge Steven O'Neill set the date after the 79-year-old pioneering black comedian made multiple attempts to head off the possibility of a trial stemming from one alleged incident at his Philadelphia home in 2004. But O'Neill advised lawyers that the trial could start even earlier if schedules permit. He also said that given the defense assertion that Cosby is blind, the defendant may require special assistance in court. Andrea Constand, who worked for the Temple University basketball team at the time, alleges thatCosby plied her with pills and wine, then sat her down on a couch at his Philadelphia home where he assaulted her. Cosby says he gave her a pill, but insists their relations with consensual. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted. Dressed in a pinstripe jacket and gray pants, Cosby had appeared animated and engaged in conversation with his lawyers before Tuesday's hearing at Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, northwest of Philadelphia. But the prospective trial cements a brutal fall from grace for the once treasured father figure and apparent model citizen who smashed through racial barriers and delighted audiences with his gentle, self-deprecating humor. In recent years, more than 50 women have publicly accused him of being a sexual predator spanning four decades, making remarkably similar allegations that he fed them sedatives and alcohol that made them unable to resist his advances. $1 million bail The vast majority of the alleged abuses happened too long ago to prosecute, making the Constand case the only criminal charge brought against Cosby. Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele told the court that he wants up to 13 other alleged victims to testify at trial. The judge has yet to agree and Cosby's legal team will likely put up fierce resistance. The defense vowed their client would continue "the fight for his rights" and accused a lawyer representing other alleged sexual assault victims of waging a campaign built "on racial bias and prejudice." "When the media repeats her accusations -- with no evidence, no trial and no jury -- we are moved backwards as a country and away from the America that our civil rights leaders sacrificed so much to create," they said. Those allegations have seen celebrity pals and millions more malign the legend who attained his greatest fame for his role as a lovable obstetrician and family man in the hit 1980s television sitcom "The Cosby Show." The Constand case was initially settled by a civil suit in 2006 but prosecutors reopened claiming that new evidence had come to light. The former star posted bail at $1 million in the case last December, but has yet to enter a plea. The Cosby show If he pleads guilty, Cosby could avoid the enormous publicity that will come with one of America's most famous entertainers going on trial. In her original deposition in January 2005, Constand said Cosby plied her with pills and wine, then sat her down on a couch, where the actor allegedly fondled her breasts, put his fingers in her vagina and put her hand on his erect penis. Cosby's legal team mock Constand's credibility, saying she chopped and changed her evidence, and omitted from the final version lying down on a bed next to the actor and later visiting his home for dinner. Constand, who now lives in Canada, has yet to appear at any public hearing. Cosby's most famous role was as Cliff Huxtable, the affable father of an upper middle class black family in New York, in "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992. It was one of the most popular TV series of all time and jettisoned the actor into a life of fame and millions, following a humble childhood during which he was raised by a maid and a US Navy cook. Cosby served in the Navy himself and won an athletic scholarship to Temple, before moving into comedy. In addition to television, he wrote books and appeared in movies. His wife Camille has stood by his side. The couple have five children. Their son Ennis was shot dead in 1997 while changing a flat tire in California. (AFP)

Bill Cosby's sex assault trial on June 5

Disgraced TV legend Bill Cosby - battling back in a sex assault case against him - can sue an accuser over tweets she wrote and an interview she gave for breaching confidentiality, a judge has ruled. 
 
In the mixed ruling issued Friday, US District Judge Eduardo Robreno also ruled that Cosby cannot sue Andrea Constand, her mother or attorneys for speaking to investigators about her accusations. 
 
But the judge let Cosby`s other claims stand for now, ruling that Constand, a former Temple University basketball coach, violated the confidentiality agreement through posts she made on twitter about the case and in comments to the Toronto Sun newspaper in 2015. 
 
The judge said Cosby could sue Constand lawyers Dolores Troiani and Bebe Kovitz for an open letter they wrote about the case published in the Philadelphia Enquirer. 
 
&quot;We are, of course, very pleased with the court`s ruling in favor of our client,&quot; Cosby`s attorneys said in a statement Monday. 
 
Constand`s allegations, that he drugged and sexually assaulted Constand at his Pennsylvania home in 2006, are also the basis for the only criminal prosecution against him.&nbsp; 
 
A judge ruled in May that Constand`s 2004 allegations could proceed to trial -- the only criminal assault charge brought against him.&nbsp;The former star posted $1 million bail in the case in December, but has yet to enter a plea and a trial date has not been set thus far. 
 
More than 50 women have publicly alleged sexual abuse at the hands of the former megastar, who attained his greatest fame for his role as a lovable obstetrician and family man in the hit 1980s sitcom &quot;The Cosby Show.&quot; 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Robreno's ruling was a rare piece of good news for the entertainer`s team

Disgraced TV legend Bill Cosby - battling back in a sex assault case against him - can sue an accuser over tweets she wrote and an interview she gave for breaching confidentiality, a judge has ruled. In the mixed ruling issued Friday, US District Judge Eduardo Robreno also ruled that Cosby cannot sue Andrea Constand, her mother or attorneys for speaking to investigators about her accusations. But the judge let Cosby`s other claims stand for now, ruling that Constand, a former Temple University basketball coach, violated the confidentiality agreement through posts she made on twitter about the case and in comments to the Toronto Sun newspaper in 2015. The judge said Cosby could sue Constand lawyers Dolores Troiani and Bebe Kovitz for an open letter they wrote about the case published in the Philadelphia Enquirer. "We are, of course, very pleased with the court`s ruling in favor of our client," Cosby`s attorneys said in a statement Monday. Constand`s allegations, that he drugged and sexually assaulted Constand at his Pennsylvania home in 2006, are also the basis for the only criminal prosecution against him. A judge ruled in May that Constand`s 2004 allegations could proceed to trial -- the only criminal assault charge brought against him. The former star posted $1 million bail in the case in December, but has yet to enter a plea and a trial date has not been set thus far. More than 50 women have publicly alleged sexual abuse at the hands of the former megastar, who attained his greatest fame for his role as a lovable obstetrician and family man in the hit 1980s sitcom "The Cosby Show." (AFP)

Bill Cosby battles back in sex assault case, permitted to sue his rape accuser over breach of confidentiality

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