Bill Cosby Finally Found Guilty of Sexual Assault In Retrial

Renowned US comedian, Bill Cosby, may be spending 30 years in prison. Bill Cosby has been found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, each of which carries a potential 10 years in prison.
The 80 yr old actor, has been on trial for drugging and assaulting ex-basketball player Andrea Constand in 2004.
Cosby, the first major black actor on primetime TV, will remain out of jail until he is sentenced, the judge ruled.

He lost his temper after the verdict, as prosecutors argued he should be denied bail.
The prosecutor argued that he should be held because he is “somebody who has unlimited wealth” and could flee on a private plane.
“He doesn’t have a plane,” Cosby then erupted, adding a vulgarity which he directed at the prosecutor.
“We are so happy that finally we can say, women are believed, and not only on #MeToo, but in a court of law,” lawyer Gloria Allred said.

It was the second time the actor had stood trial for the allegations, after an earlier jury failed to reach a verdict in June 2017.
At the start of the retrial in Pennsylvania it was revealed that Cosby had paid Ms Constand almost $3.4m (£2.4m) in a civil settlement in 2006.
Cosby is best known for starring in the 1980s TV series The Cosby Show.
Around 60 women over five decades have publicly accused the Emmy award-winning actor of being a sexual predator. But statute of limitation laws mean that only one charge has been brought to trial.
Some of his accusers were present in court, and cried as the guilty verdict was returned.
Cosby’s lawyer Tom Mesereau insisted “the fight is not over”, adding that he believes Cosby is innocent and that he plans to file an appeal.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, who brought the charges against Cosby, held a press conference after the verdict.

Cosby has been stripped of numerous awards and accolades in the previous decade
“Money and power or who you are will not stop us from a criminal investigation and prosecuting a case,” Mr Steele said, as Ms Constand stood beside him.
This is however a major win for the sexual abuse awareness #Me too movement which has been ongoing for months.