Comedian Bill Cosby, accused in three counts of aggravated indecent assault, might face up to ten years in jail if found guilty. His fate currently rides on the judgement of 12 jurors assigned on this case.
According to the Washington Post, Cosby did not testify in his own defense, and his defense rested after calling just one repeat witness for further questioning. The jury comprises of seven men and five women from the Pittsburgh area.
On Monday, defense attorney Brian McMonagle said the prosecution’s key witness, Andrea Constand, had too many inconsistencies in her story to be a reliable witness. The jurors also heard Cosby’s side of the story, albeit not in his voice. Cosby has thus far pleaded not guilty to three charges of aggravated indecent assault.
Andrea Constand, the main complainant in the sexual harassment trial against Bill Cosby, testified in court last week. Andrea said that Cosby drugged her and raped her at his home in 2004.
The trial started on June 5, and Andrea has testified on day one in an appearance that lasted four hours. On day two, she was severely cross examined and grilled by Cosby’s lawyers to get her to admit to discrepancies between her first complaint and later testimonies.
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While more than 40 women have come forward to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual harassment and rape, Andrea Constand is considered the primary witness. It was her initial complaint that led to criminal charges against the TV host and comedian.
The three counts of assault includes different aspects of the same case involving Constand. The first alleges that Cosby didn’t have consent when he penetrated Constand’s genitals with his fingers; the second alleges that she was unconscious or semi-conscious at the time and could not give consent; and the third alleges that he gave her an intoxicant that impaired her and stopped her from resisting.
The jury in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault trial will resume discussing the case today.