Cosby to die in jail
ACTOR and comedian Bill Cosby is expected to die in prison after a jury yesterday found him guilty of three felony sexual assault charges, the final chapter in the stunning downfall of a man once one of the world’s best-loved entertainers.
After the verdict, Cosby, 80, yelled out, calling the district attorney who prosecuted him an “a---hole” as his accusers wept and hugged in a Philadelphia court.
Cosby was found guilty on three counts of drugging and sexual assaulting Andrea Constand, a basketball coach he had mentored at Temple University 14 years ago.
More than 60 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault over five decades, many alleging he drugged them before raping them. Five of the women testified at the twoweek retrial before a jury of seven men and five women.
A jury found Cosby, best- known as affable family man Dr Cliff Huxtable on the longrunning and award-winning 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show, had drugged and then sexually assaulted Ms Constand.
The three felony counts each carry a 10-year sentence, which may be served concurrently. No sentence date has been set, but it will occur within 90 days.
During the trial, Ms Constand was labelled a “patho- logical liar” and “con artist” by Cosby’s defence team, which framed her as a spurned, consensual partner who wanted to get rich off the rape allegations.
Ms Constand remained calm during the verdict, hugging her lawyers and supporters and smiling as she left the court.
“Justice has been done,” said celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred, who represented several Cosby accusers.
“Guilty, guilty, guilty. We are so happy that finally we can say women are believed.”
Others were more emotional. “I’m overcome with gratitude,” former actor Lili Bernard said, sobbing.
Bernard had accused Cosby of sexually assaulting her after a 1992 appearance on The Cosby Show.
“I feel like I have to pinch myself. Am I awake? It’s a miracle,” she said.
Prosecutor Kevin Steele said Cosby “had evaded this moment for far too long”.
“He used his celebrity, he used his wealth, he used his network of supporters to help him conceal his crimes,” Mr Steele said.
“Now, we really know today who was really behind that act, who the real Bill Cosby was.”
He praised Ms Constand’s persistence with the charges.
“When you look at this and look lo at what Andrea (Constand) st has done to stand up and a declare what has happened, her actions to help victims stand up and tell what has happened to them ... I hope that our actions have shown that people stand up with those v victims and all women who are out there standing up (that) we support them, encourage them to keep it up,” he said.
Judge Steven O’Neill said Cosby could remain free on $1 million bail.
When Mr Steele asked for bail to be revoked, arguing Cosby was a flight risk because he owned a plane, Cosby suddenly became angry.
“He doesn’t have a plane, you a---hole,” he shouted.
Lawyer Tom Mesereau said Cosby, who has been married to wife Camille for 54 years, planned to appeal.
“We don’t think Mr Cosby’s guilty of anything,” he said. “And the fight is not over.”
The retrial came less than a year after Cosby’s first trial ended in a deadlocked jury.