The comedian and actor Bill Cosby has been found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault, following a retrial in a Pennsylvania court.
Cosby, 80, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand in 2004. He is “likely to get less than that under state sentencing guidelines”, says the ABC, but given his age “even a modest term could mean he will die behind bars”.
The jury, made up of seven men and five women, deliberated for 14 hours over two days at the end of the two-week retrial, after the first trial on these charges ended with a hung jury just under a year ago.
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Cosby stared straight ahead as the verdict was read out. Constand remained stoic, but there were “shrieks and gasps” from Cosby’s other accusers in the courtroom.
When Maryland district attorney Kevin Steele asked that the comedian’s $1m bail be revoked, arguing that he is wealthy and might flee on a private plane, Cosby “stood up and erupted”, says CBS News, calling Steele an “asshole” and shouting that he was “sick of him”.
Despite the outburst, the judge decided that Cosby can remain free on bail until his sentencing hearing, but he must not leave the state. A date for the hearing has not been set.
Cosby’s lawyer, Tom Mesereau, said he plans to appeal against the conviction “very strongly”, adding: “We are very disappointed by the verdict. We don’t think Mr Cosby’s guilty of anything and the fight is not over".
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