Cosby jurors ask to hear repeat of star defense witness testimony
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby leaves court after a day of deliberations in his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (Reuters) - Jurors deliberating the fate of comedian Bill Cosby on Wednesday asked to hear once again the testimony of the star defense witness and Cosby's interview with the police who investigated the 2004 incident that led to his sexual assault trial.
Judge Steven O'Neil read Cosby's deposition from a 2005 civil lawsuit filed by his accuser, Andrea Constand, but deferred the reading of testimony from defence witness Marguerite Jackson before the jury retired for the night. That testimony will be read to the jury Thursday morning by the court reporter.
FILE PHOTO - Andrea Constand, key witness in the case against actor and comedian Bill Cosby, returns to the courtroom after lunch on the sixth day of Cosby's sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 16, 2018. REUTERS/Dominick Reuter/Pool
Once known as "America's Dad", Cosby is going through his second trial for three counts of aggravated indecent assault of a former friend, Andrea Constand, in the Montgomery County court in Pennsylvania.
Jurors spent six days last year deliberating the same case in the same courthouse before O’Neill declared they were deadlocked.
Constand, 45, a former administrator of the women's basketball team at Temple University, Cosby's alma mater, testified the comedian drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2004.
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby and his spokesman Andrew Wyatt leave court after a day of deliberations in his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Constand is one of about 50 women who have made similar allegations against the 80-year-old Cosby going back decades, but hers was the only case recent enough to be eligible for prosecution.
Cosby has denied the charges, saying any sexual contact was consensual. His lawyers said women were fabricating stories in search of money and fame.
After receiving instructions from Judge Steven O'Neill on Wednesday morning, the seven men and five women of the jury raised questions three times.
Actor and comedian, Bill Cosby, is lead by spokesperson Andrew Wyatt, to a private room during a break in Cosby's sexual assault retrial case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. Corey Perrine/Pool via Reuters
Two hours into deliberations, the jury, which has been sequestered since the start of the trial on April 9, asked for the legal definition of "consent" in a sexual assault case.
O'Neill said the question could not be answered under Pennsylvania law.
Another question concerned a jury request to see two documents prepared by Jackson outlining her accusations against Constand, which O'Neill denied, and the content of several stipulations about evidence, which he granted. The third question asked for the rereading of the Cosby deposition and Jackson's testimony.
Actor and comedian, Bill Cosby, lead by spokesperson Andrew Wyatt, return from break for Cosby's sexual assault retrial case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. Corey Perrine/Pool via Reuters
Jackson, who was barred from testifying in the first trial, told the court Constand once told her "it would be easy" to fabricate an accusation of sexual assault against a celebrity to make money.
Cosby has remained free on bail. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the three counts, although sentencing guidelines call for the terms to be served concurrently.
Attorney Gloria Allred talks outside courtroom A, awaiting the start of Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. Corey Perrine/Pool via Reuters
(Reporting by David DeKok; writing by Daniel Trotta and Barbara Goldberg; Editing by Bill Tarrant and Michael Perry)
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele arrives for actor and comedian Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. Corey Perrine/Pool via ReutersMontgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill walks towards courtroom A for actor and comedian Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. Corey Perrine/Pool via ReutersTom Mesereau, lawyer for actor and comedian Bill Cosby, arrives for Cosby's sexual assault retrial case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. Corey Perrine/Pool via ReutersAndrew Wyatt, spokesperson for actor and comedian Bill Cosby, talks outside courtroom A, awaiting the start of Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. Corey Perrine/Pool via ReutersKathleen Bliss, lawyer for actor and comedian Bill Cosby, arrives for Cosby's sexual assault retrial case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. Corey Perrine/Pool via ReutersActor and comedian, Bill Cosby, is lead by spokesperson Andrew Wyatt, as they arrive for Cosby's sexual assault retrial case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. Corey Perrine/Pool via ReutersActor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives for deliberations at his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidActor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives for deliberations at his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidActor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives for deliberations at his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidAndrew Wyatt, spokesman for actor and comedian Bill Cosby, speaks to the press as they arrive for deliberations at Cosby's sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidActor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives for deliberations at his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidActor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives for deliberations at his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidActor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives with his spokesman Andrew Wyatt for deliberations at his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
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