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Bill Cosby opts not to testify in his sexual assault retrial Bill Cosby opts not to testify in his sexual assault retrial
(35 minutes later)
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby opted not to testify in his sexual assault retrial as his lawyers rested their case on Monday, setting the stage for closing arguments.Actor and comedian Bill Cosby opted not to testify in his sexual assault retrial as his lawyers rested their case on Monday, setting the stage for closing arguments.
“You now have all of the evidence,” Judge Steven O’Neill told jurors, sending them back to their hotel. “Try to relax, so that you’re on your game tomorrow,” he said.“You now have all of the evidence,” Judge Steven O’Neill told jurors, sending them back to their hotel. “Try to relax, so that you’re on your game tomorrow,” he said.
Closing arguments will be held Tuesday in the case that pits the Cosby Show star once known as “America’s Dad” against a woman who says he drugged her at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004, then sexually assaulted her while she was unable to resist or protest.Closing arguments will be held Tuesday in the case that pits the Cosby Show star once known as “America’s Dad” against a woman who says he drugged her at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004, then sexually assaulted her while she was unable to resist or protest.
Cosby, 80, didn’t take the stand at his first trial, either, last year. That ended in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked on three related counts of aggravated indecent assault. If convicted, Cosby could get up to 10 years in prison on each count.Cosby, 80, didn’t take the stand at his first trial, either, last year. That ended in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked on three related counts of aggravated indecent assault. If convicted, Cosby could get up to 10 years in prison on each count.
Jurors heard testimony from 25 witnesses during the April retrial at Montgomery county court in Pennsylvania.Jurors heard testimony from 25 witnesses during the April retrial at Montgomery county court in Pennsylvania.
Chief accuser Andrea Constand gave her account, as did five other women who say Cosby drugged and assaulted them, too. The chief accuser, Andrea Constand, gave her account, as did five other women who say Cosby drugged and assaulted them, too.
Jurors also heard an explosive deposition Cosby gave in 2005 and 2006 as part of Constand’s civil suit against him. In it, the star acknowledged he gave the sedative quaaludes to women before sex in the 1970s.Jurors also heard an explosive deposition Cosby gave in 2005 and 2006 as part of Constand’s civil suit against him. In it, the star acknowledged he gave the sedative quaaludes to women before sex in the 1970s.
Cosby has said he gave a cold and allergy medicine to Constand to help her relax before what he called a consensual sexual encounter.Cosby has said he gave a cold and allergy medicine to Constand to help her relax before what he called a consensual sexual encounter.
The star defense witness was a former colleague of Constand who says she spoke of leveling false sexual assault accusations against a high-profile person for the purpose of suing them. Constand received a civil settlement of nearly $3.4m from Cosby.The star defense witness was a former colleague of Constand who says she spoke of leveling false sexual assault accusations against a high-profile person for the purpose of suing them. Constand received a civil settlement of nearly $3.4m from Cosby.
Before the defense rested there were arguments about Cosby’s travel habits as his legal team tried to show he couldn’t have been at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in January 2004, the month Constand alleges he assaulted her.Before the defense rested there were arguments about Cosby’s travel habits as his legal team tried to show he couldn’t have been at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in January 2004, the month Constand alleges he assaulted her.
The date is important because prosecutors reopened the case in 2015, just before the statute of limitations expired.The date is important because prosecutors reopened the case in 2015, just before the statute of limitations expired.
Bill CosbyBill Cosby
Sexual harassmentSexual harassment
US crimeUS crime
Rape and sexual assault
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