Bill Cosby's trial for sexual assault begins in Pennsylvania
Bill Cosby 'used power and fame to prey on woman'
(about 2 hours later)
The trial of US comedian and actor Bill Cosby for sexual assault has begun in Pennsylvania.
Bill Cosby used power and fame to drug and sexually assault a helpless woman, a court has heard on day one of the US comedian's trial.
Former university employee Andrea Constand alleges he drugged and molested her in 2004.
"Trust, betrayal and the inability to consent - that's what this case is about," a prosecutor told the court in Pennsylvania.
Mr Cosby, 79, says he is innocent and the encounter was consensual. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.
Mr Cosby is on trial for allegedly molesting a woman who was seeking career advice in 2004.
It is being seen as the biggest US celebrity court case since the murder trial of former American football player OJ Simpson in 1995.
Dozens of other women accuse the 79-year-old entertainer of sexual assault.
Several of Mr Cosby's co-stars from the 1984-1992 sitcom The Cosby Show are expected to attend the trial in Norristown, outside Philadelphia. One of them, Keshia Knight Pulliam who played his daughter on TV, accompanied him into court.
It is seen as the biggest US celebrity court case since the murder trial of former American football player OJ Simpson in 1995.
His wife of 53 years was not seen with him as he entered the suburban courthouse.
Assistant District Attorney Kristen Feden told jurors on Monday: "This is a case about a man - this man - who used his power and his fame and his previously practised method of placing a young, trusting woman in an incapacitated state so he could sexually pleasure himself, so she couldn't say no."
More than 100 journalists are expected to cover the trial.
As Mr Cosby sat a few feet away, the assistant district attorney urged jurors to look beyond his role as the dad on the hit 1984-1992 television sitcom The Cosby Show.
That wholesome TV image would be "shattered", she said, accusing the entertainer of "heinous crimes".
Defence attorney Brian McMonagle countered that Mr Cosby is the victim of false accusations.
"Today I get a chance, with your help, to right a wrong," he told jurors.
"I get a chance, with your help, to protect a man from the destruction of the rest of his life."
In the courtroom: BBC's Courtney Subramanian
In the courtroom: BBC's Courtney Subramanian
The courthouse, in Norristown, about 20 miles (32km) outside Mr Cosby's home city of Philadelphia, swarmed with reporters as the celebrity arrived, emerging slowly from the back seat of a black SUV.
The courthouse, in Norristown, about 20 miles (32km) outside Mr Cosby's home city of Philadelphia, swarmed with reporters as the celebrity arrived, emerging slowly from the back seat of a black SUV.
Inside court he reappeared, dressed in a navy suit and a striped tie, never turning towards the packed courtroom behind him.
Inside court he reappeared, dressed in a navy suit and a striped tie, never turning towards the packed courtroom behind him.
He sat stoically, facing forward and periodically leaning over to confer with one of his lawyers. At one point he spoke out to no-one in particular, as one of his associates had walked away, perhaps revealing his issues with poor sight. But as members of the jury entered, Mr Cosby - like everyone else in the room - turned his attention to their corner.
He sat stoically, facing forward and periodically leaning over to confer with one of his lawyers. At one point he spoke out to no-one in particular, as one of his associates had walked away, possibly revealing an issue with poor sight. But as members of the jury entered, Mr Cosby - like everyone else in the room - turned his attention to their corner.
Judge Steven O'Neill appealed to the courtroom full of reporters to "let the trial play out", before spending the first hour explaining to jurors their job.
Judge Steven O'Neill appealed to the courtroom full of reporters to "let the trial play out", before spending the first hour explaining to jurors their job.
What is Cosby accused of?
Why is there a time limit on sexual assault cases in the US?
Mr Cosby faces three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $25,000 (£19,500).
At least 50 women have accused Mr Cosby of sexual assault, but because of statutes of limitation he is on trial for only one allegation.
In 2004 Ms Constand was 31 when she visited Mr Cosby's home seeking career advice after befriending him through Temple University in Philadelphia, where he served on the board of trustees.
Former university employee Andrea Constand says Mr Cosby drugged and molested her after she visited his home seeking career advice in 2004.
She said Mr Cosby gave her three blue pills which made her legs feel "like jelly" and that he then began to touch her inappropriately.
She was 31 at the time and had befriended him through Temple University in Philadelphia, where he served on the board of trustees.
Mr Cosby's defence lawyers argued on Monday that the pair had multiple romantic encounters, and that Mr Cosby only offered her drugs after she complained of trouble sleeping.
Ms Constand said Mr Cosby gave her three blue pills which made her legs feel "like jelly" and began to grope her.
In 2006, the comedian settled with Ms Constand after providing an undisclosed cash sum to her.
In 2006, the comedian settled with Ms Constand after providing an undisclosed cash sum to her.
At least 50 women have accused Mr Cosby of sexual assault, but he only faces charges in Ms Constand's case because of statutes of limitations.
Mr Cosby's defence lawyers argued on Monday that his encounter with her was one of many consensual, romantic episodes between them.
What is the evidence against him?
His legal team said he only offered her Quaaludes - a sedative widely used recreationally in the US in the 1970s - after she complained of having trouble sleeping.
Prosecutor Kristen Feden called upon jurors to look beyond his role as Dr Cliff Huxtable.
Mr Cosby's lawyers asked why Ms Constand returned to his house after she said he had made previous unwanted sexual advances on her.
That the wholesome TV image "will be shattered", she said, accusing Mr Cosby of "heinous crimes".
They also presented evidence that the two had more than 70 phone discussions after the alleged incident, and accused Ms Constand of changing her story to police at least three times.
By drugging women and making them legally unable to consent to sex, Mr Cosby put them in a position "so that they couldn't say no", Mrs Feden told jurors.
Mr Cosby's wife of 53 years was not seen with him as he entered the court in Norristown, near Philadelphia, on Monday.
She also frequently referred to Mr Cosby's own admission in 2005 that he had used drugs as part of his efforts to have sex with women.
But Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played his on-screen daughter in The Cosby Show, did accompany him.
The drugs, called Quaaludes, are a sedative that was widely used recreationally in the US in the 1970s.
Mr Cosby faces three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $25,000 (£19,500).
However Judge Steven O'Neill has ruled that the court will not hear about the 2006 civil case. Neither will jurors hear from Mr Cosby's many other accusers.
The comic - who was at one point the highest-paid actor in the US - has said he will not testify in the trial, which is expected to last about two weeks.
What is Mr Cosby's defence?
He has speculated that some of the allegations against him could be motivated by racism.
Mr Cosby says his encounter with Ms Constand was consensual, and his lawyer pointed to evenings spent sipping cognac at his home as proof of their friendship.
The jury has seven men and five women - two are black and 10 white.
He also says he offered women drugs as a way to encourage them to relax rather than a way to render them helpless.
On the night of the alleged sex assault, Mr Cosby says he gave Ms Constand some Benadryl, an anti-allergy medication that can cause drowsiness, because she appeared stressed.
Mr Cosby's lawyers asked on Monday why Ms Constand returned to Mr Cosby's house after she said he had made previous unwanted sexual advances on her.
They also presented evidence that the two had more than 70 phone discussions after the alleged incident, and accused Ms Constand of changing her story to police at least three time.
They also questioned why the case is being brought now, more than 10 years after a previous district attorney decided there was not enough evidence to go to trial.
Will he testify?
No - Mr Cosby has said he will not testify and last month told Sirius-XM radio that he feared prosecution lawyers could twist his words on the stand.
"When you have to deal with examination, cross-examination, et cetera, et cetera, more than two sides to every story - sometimes it's four or five," he said.
He has also speculated that some of the allegations against him could be motivated by racism.
Who is on the jury?
The jury is made up of seven men and five women. They include two black people and 10 white people, the New York Times reported.
The jurors are from the Pittsburgh area, 300 miles to the west of the court in Norristown, because Mr Cosby's defence team argued that jurors there could have been affected by pre-trial publicity.
The jurors will be kept away from media reports for the duration of the trial.
Why is Bill Cosby important?
Mr Cosby is best known for his role as the father in the television hit The Cosby Show, which was a huge hit in the US and around the globe.
At one point he was the highest-paid actor in the US.
He was born in Philadelphia and started his career as a stand-up comedian in 1962, debuting on NBC's The Tonight Show in 1963.
In 1965, he became the first black actor to star in a drama series in the US, in the espionage show I Spy. He earned three consecutive best actor Emmys for his role, at a time of high race tensions in the US.
In 2013 he did a national stand-up tour and received rave reviews. After that, several women began to come forward with allegations of sexual assault, some going back nearly 30 years.
