The Latest: Cosby jury focuses on star defence witness
Posted Apr 25, 2018 11:21:56 AM.
Last Updated Apr 25, 2018 07:00:42 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NORRISTOWN, Pa. – The Latest on Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial (all times local):
6:35 p.m.
Jurors at Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial appear to be focused on the testimony of a woman who claims his chief accuser spoke of framing a prominent person for the money.
The jury asked to rehear testimony from star defence witness Marguerite Jackson, a former Temple University colleague of Andrea Constand’s.
Jackson testified that Constand told her she could fabricate sexual assault allegations and “get that money” from a lawsuit, bolstering Cosby’s efforts to show Constand made up the allegations against him to extort a big civil settlement.
Cosby is accused of drugging and molesting Constand in 2004. He says it was consensual.
The Associated Press doesn’t typically identify people who say they’re victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.
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1:10 p.m.
Deliberating jurors in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case have asked their first question of the judge.
The jury returned to a suburban Philadelphia courtroom less than two hours into its deliberations to ask for the legal definition of consent.
Judge Steve O’Neill said he wasn’t able to answer it, telling jurors they’ve already been given the definitions of the charges they are considering.
Prosecutors say the 80-year-old comedian drugged and molested a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.
His lawyers say Cosby’s encounter with Andrea Constand was consensual. The defence says Constand falsely accused Cosby so she could file suit against him. Cosby paid Constand nearly $3.4 million in 2006.
Cosby’s first trial ended without a verdict after jurors deadlocked.
The Associated Press doesn’t typically identify people who say they’re victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.
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11:10 a.m.
A jury has started deliberating the fate of Bill Cosby in his sexual assault retrial.
The jurors began their work late Wednesday morning after getting instructions from the judge.
Cosby is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors say the 80-year-old comedian drugged and molested a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.
His lawyers say that whatever happened between Cosby and accuser Andrea Constand was consensual. The defence says Constand falsely accused Cosby so she could file suit against him. Cosby paid Constand nearly $3.4 million in 2006.
Cosby’s first trial ended without a verdict after jurors deadlocked.
The Associated Press doesn’t typically identify people who say they’re victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.
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8:45 a.m.
Bill Cosby has arrived at a suburban Philadelphia courthouse where jurors will start deliberating at the comedian’s sexual assault retrial.
The 80-year-old Cosby arrived on the rainy Wednesday. He gave a quick fist pump and sashayed toward people chanting “We love Bill!”
The jury of seven men and five women are to start weighing charges, one day after more than five hours of closing arguments that portrayed Cosby as a calculating predator and the victim of a multimillion-dollar frame-up.
The prosecution and defence gave jurors plenty to think about after a two-week trial on charges Cosby drugged and molested Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in January 2004.
The Associated Press doesn’t typically identify people who say they’re victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.
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12:05 a.m.
Jurors at Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial are poised to start deliberating after a marathon day of closing arguments.
The seven men and five women sequestered will start weighing charges on Wednesday in the first big celebrity trial of the #MeToo era.
They begged off a late Tuesday start, saying they were exhausted from 5 1/2 hours of closing arguments.
Prosecutors portrayed the comedian as a calculating predator.
Cosby’s lawyers said he’s the victim of a multimillion-dollar frame-up.
The prosecution and defence gave jurors a lot to think about after a two-week trial on charges Cosby drugged and molested Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in January 2004.
The Associated Press doesn’t typically identify people who say they’re victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.
