Jury begins deliberating in Bill Cosby assault trial
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — The jury at Bill Cosby’s trial began deliberating Monday over whether he drugged and molested a woman more than a decade ago in a case that has already helped demolish the 79-year-old comedian’s good-guy image.
A conviction could send Cosby to prison for the rest of his life, completing the stunning latelife downfall of one of the most beloved stars in show business.
The fast-moving case went to the jury of seven men and five women on Day 6 of the trial after closing arguments gave differing portrayals of what happened between Cosby and Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia estate.
Defense attorney Brian McMonagle told the jury that Cosby and Constand were lovers who had enjoyed secret “romantic interludes” and that the 2004 encounter was consensual. McMonagle said that while the comedian had been unfaithful to his wife, he didn’t commit a crime.
Prosecutors countered by saying “fancy lawyering” can’t save Cosby from his own words — namely, his admission about groping Constand after giving her pills he knew could put her to sleep.
Jurors got the case around 5:30 p.m., deliberated for about 90 minutes before ordering dinner, and then asked to see a portion of Cosby’s decade-old testimony from a civil suit filed against him by Constand.
Jurors told the judge that they wanted to hear the “full context” of Cosby’s testimony about the pills he gave to Constand.
After the prosecution took five days to outline its side, the defense case consisted of just one witness, a detective, and six minutes of testimony Monday. Cosby did not take the stand, ending days of suspense over whether the jury would hear directly from him. He is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault, each one punishable by up to 10 years behind bars.
The black comedian was once known as America’s Dad for his portrayal of kindly Dr. Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show.
Cosby’s wife of 53 years, Camille, was in the courtroom for the first time in the trial. She was stoic during the defense argument but left when it was the prosecution’s turn. She sat in the front row, across the aisle from Constand.
Constand, 44, sued Cosby after prosecutors in 2005 declined to press charges.