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Bill Cosby charged with indecent assault | Bill Cosby charged with indecent assault |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Prosecutors in the US have charged comedian Bill Cosby with aggravated indecent assault over an alleged incident in 2004. | Prosecutors in the US have charged comedian Bill Cosby with aggravated indecent assault over an alleged incident in 2004. |
It is the first time Mr Cosby, 78, has been charged with any offence after months of accusations. | It is the first time Mr Cosby, 78, has been charged with any offence after months of accusations. |
Andrea Constand says she was drugged then assaulted at the Philadelphia home of the former US television star. | Andrea Constand says she was drugged then assaulted at the Philadelphia home of the former US television star. |
Dozens of women have accused him of sexual assault, dating back to the 1970s, but he has denied wrongdoing. | Dozens of women have accused him of sexual assault, dating back to the 1970s, but he has denied wrongdoing. |
Mr Cosby made no comment as he arrived at court to be formally charged. He did not enter a plea at the hearing where a judge set bail at $1m (£675,000). | |
Later, his lawyer said in a statement that he would "mount a vigorous defence against this unjustified charge". | Later, his lawyer said in a statement that he would "mount a vigorous defence against this unjustified charge". |
Prosecution allegations | Prosecution allegations |
Cosby 'drugged his victim': what the criminal complaint says | |
Earlier this month Mr Cosby opened a lawsuit against seven of the women, accusing them of defamation. | Earlier this month Mr Cosby opened a lawsuit against seven of the women, accusing them of defamation. |
It is the second time there has been an investigation into Ms Constand's complaint against the actor, who won acclaim for playing a family doctor and model father in The Cosby Show. | It is the second time there has been an investigation into Ms Constand's complaint against the actor, who won acclaim for playing a family doctor and model father in The Cosby Show. |
In 2005, after no charges were brought when she first made the accusation, she sued him and settled for an undisclosed sum. | In 2005, after no charges were brought when she first made the accusation, she sued him and settled for an undisclosed sum. |
He has previously said under oath he had a consensual sexual encounter with her. | He has previously said under oath he had a consensual sexual encounter with her. |
Mr Cosby befriended Ms Constand through her job at Temple University and she came to think of him as "a mentor and a friend" before he allegedly made two sexual advances that were rejected, said prosecutors. | Mr Cosby befriended Ms Constand through her job at Temple University and she came to think of him as "a mentor and a friend" before he allegedly made two sexual advances that were rejected, said prosecutors. |
Documents from her lawsuit against the star were sealed until this summer, when damaging testimony was revealed as more women came forward. | Documents from her lawsuit against the star were sealed until this summer, when damaging testimony was revealed as more women came forward. |
The 12-year statute of limitations was only days away from expiring, in January 2016. | The 12-year statute of limitations was only days away from expiring, in January 2016. |
Analysis by Laura Bicker, BBC News, Washington | Analysis by Laura Bicker, BBC News, Washington |
Andrea Constand's claims and those of dozens of other women were largely ignored by the media until recently. | Andrea Constand's claims and those of dozens of other women were largely ignored by the media until recently. |
It was a comedian labelling him as a rapist which made the headlines in 2014. Hannibal Buress mocked him during a stand-up routine and the recording went viral. Then came the damning deposition. | It was a comedian labelling him as a rapist which made the headlines in 2014. Hannibal Buress mocked him during a stand-up routine and the recording went viral. Then came the damning deposition. |
Bill Cosby was questioned under oath during a civil case brought by Andrea Constand in 2005. A judge was persuaded to unseal the document a decade after it was written. In it he admits to using drugs to dope women with whom he wanted to have sex - but insisted it was with their knowledge. He also admits to paying women to keep quiet. | Bill Cosby was questioned under oath during a civil case brought by Andrea Constand in 2005. A judge was persuaded to unseal the document a decade after it was written. In it he admits to using drugs to dope women with whom he wanted to have sex - but insisted it was with their knowledge. He also admits to paying women to keep quiet. |
More women, from the world of modelling, acting and other entertainment fields came forward, all with similar stories. For most, it is too late to bring charges - but not in in this case. | More women, from the world of modelling, acting and other entertainment fields came forward, all with similar stories. For most, it is too late to bring charges - but not in in this case. |
Kevin Steele, a district attorney in Montgomery County near Philadelphia, said his office had reopened the Constand case after "new information came to light". | Kevin Steele, a district attorney in Montgomery County near Philadelphia, said his office had reopened the Constand case after "new information came to light". |
The prosecutors re-interviewed witnesses, examined evidence from the civil case and spoke to other alleged victims before they decided to file criminal charges, Mr Steele's office said in a statement. | The prosecutors re-interviewed witnesses, examined evidence from the civil case and spoke to other alleged victims before they decided to file criminal charges, Mr Steele's office said in a statement. |
In testimony seen by the New York Times and published in July, Mr Cosby admitted he had given women a sedative, Quaaludes, when he wanted to have sex with them, but not without their knowledge. | In testimony seen by the New York Times and published in July, Mr Cosby admitted he had given women a sedative, Quaaludes, when he wanted to have sex with them, but not without their knowledge. |
At the height of his fame from The Cosby Show, the comedian was the highest paid entertainer on US television. | At the height of his fame from The Cosby Show, the comedian was the highest paid entertainer on US television. |