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| Bill Cosby sentenced to state prison for sexual assault | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Comedian Bill Cosby has been sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison for sexual assault. | |
| Cosby, 81, has also been categorised as a sexually violent predator, meaning he must undergo counselling for life and be listed on the sex offender registry. | |
| The actor declined to make a statement when a judge gave him the opportunity. | |
| At a retrial in April, Cosby was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand in 2004. | |
| Judge Steven O'Neill has also denied Cosby's request for bail pending appeal. | |
| After delivering the sentence, Judge O'Neill said: "Mr Cosby you took her beautiful healthy young spirit and crushed it." | |
| He told Ms Constand he "heard the very clear impact" the assault had on her life. | |
| Ahead of the sentence, the judge designated Cosby a sexually violent predator, despite the defence's argument that Cosby's age and blindness mean he is not a threat. | |
| Tuesday's classification means he will need to register with state police and notify any community he lives in of his sex offender status, as well as undergo mandatory counselling for life. | Tuesday's classification means he will need to register with state police and notify any community he lives in of his sex offender status, as well as undergo mandatory counselling for life. |
| Neighbours, childcare centres and schools will have be notified of the whereabouts of the entertainer once known as America's Dad. | |
| The actor's defence team had argued the state's sex offender law was too severe given Cosby's age and the fact that he is legally blind. | The actor's defence team had argued the state's sex offender law was too severe given Cosby's age and the fact that he is legally blind. |
| The disgraced comedian's two-day hearing at Montgomery County Courthouse in Pennsylvania began on Monday with legal debate over the violent predator label. | The disgraced comedian's two-day hearing at Montgomery County Courthouse in Pennsylvania began on Monday with legal debate over the violent predator label. |
| Psychologist Kristen Dudley testified on Monday that Cosby showed signs of a mental disorder and was likely to reoffend. | Psychologist Kristen Dudley testified on Monday that Cosby showed signs of a mental disorder and was likely to reoffend. |
| In addition to the label, Cosby still faces a maximum prison term of 10 years after an agreement between prosecutors and his defence team, but there is no mandatory minimum for the convictions. | In addition to the label, Cosby still faces a maximum prison term of 10 years after an agreement between prosecutors and his defence team, but there is no mandatory minimum for the convictions. |
| The Montgomery County District Attorney, Kevin Steele, called for five to 10 years in jail for aggravated indecent assault. | The Montgomery County District Attorney, Kevin Steele, called for five to 10 years in jail for aggravated indecent assault. |
| Cosby's defence is pushing instead for house arrest. | Cosby's defence is pushing instead for house arrest. |
| In June 2017, Ms Constand described how Cosby, whom she viewed as a "mentor", gave her pills that left her "frozen" and unable to stop his assault. | In June 2017, Ms Constand described how Cosby, whom she viewed as a "mentor", gave her pills that left her "frozen" and unable to stop his assault. |
| In Ms Constand's impact statement, provided to reporters by the prosecution team on Tuesday, she said: "To truly understand the impact that the sexual assault has had on my life, you have to understand the person that I was before it happened." | In Ms Constand's impact statement, provided to reporters by the prosecution team on Tuesday, she said: "To truly understand the impact that the sexual assault has had on my life, you have to understand the person that I was before it happened." |
| Ms Constand wrote that she stopped eating, sleeping and socialising in the wake of the assault. She said she had been a "young woman brimming with confidence" before Cosby took that from her. | Ms Constand wrote that she stopped eating, sleeping and socialising in the wake of the assault. She said she had been a "young woman brimming with confidence" before Cosby took that from her. |
| "Bill Cosby took my beautiful, healthy young spirit and crushed it. He robbed me of my health and vitality, my open nature, and my trust in myself and others." | "Bill Cosby took my beautiful, healthy young spirit and crushed it. He robbed me of my health and vitality, my open nature, and my trust in myself and others." |
| Lili Bernard and former model Janice Dickinson - both Cosby accusers present at the hearing - tweeted on Tuesday: "May justice be served! #MeToo". | Lili Bernard and former model Janice Dickinson - both Cosby accusers present at the hearing - tweeted on Tuesday: "May justice be served! #MeToo". |
| Cosby's wife, Camille, has not been present at the sentencing. | Cosby's wife, Camille, has not been present at the sentencing. |
| The comedian was arrested in 2015 and a deadlocked jury resulted in a mistrial in June 2017. | The comedian was arrested in 2015 and a deadlocked jury resulted in a mistrial in June 2017. |
| This year's retrial occurred amid the #MeToo movement that has seen people worldwide come forward to share stories of sexual harassment and assault. | This year's retrial occurred amid the #MeToo movement that has seen people worldwide come forward to share stories of sexual harassment and assault. |