Racial furor in Cosby jury selex

Jury selection in Bill Cosby’s upcoming sexassault retrial stalled briefly Wednesday when a member of the defense team claimed to have overheard a prosecutor spewing racial vitriol.

The allegation was made when defense attorney Kathleen Bliss challenged a prosecution decision to toss an African-American prospective juror from the panel.

The content of the statement, which Bliss described as “racial animus that cannot be undone,” was not clear, and was never put on the record.

The issue was discussed behind closed doors at the Montgomery County, Pa., courthouse with attorneys from both sides, and without the presence of a stenographer.

Lead defense attorney Tom Mesereau later announced that his team would withdraw its challenge and allow selection to continue, effectively killing any need to further discuss the purported comment.

The last of 12 jurors was selected Wednesday. Six alternates will be selected before opening statements Monday.

It was not clear which member of the prosecution team was accused of making the alleged slur.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney did not return a message seeking comment.

Cosby, 80, is facing retrial on three charges of aggravated indecent assault. Prosecutors claim he drugged and molested ex-Temple University staffer Andrea Constand in his Pennsylvania home in 2004.