PHILADELPHIA: American former stand-up comedian and actor Bill Cosby’s released Wednesday when a sexual assault conviction was thrown out by the highest court in a ruling that freed the 83-year-old from prison more than three years after he was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his private mansion.
The Cosby showman was allowed to walk free after a court found a prosecutor’s decades-old agreement should have shielded him from criminal charges. The judges remarked that ‘there had been a process violation by the prosecution’, but acknowledged that the ruling was unusual.
The court found that Cosby relied on that promise when he agreed to testify without invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in a lawsuit leveled by Andrea Constand – a former basketball player.
The court concluded that the prosecutor who later brought the charges was obligated to stick to the nonprosecution agreement, so the conviction cannot stand. ‘Denying the defendant the benefit of that decision is an affront to fundamental fairness, particularly when it results in a criminal prosecution that was foregone for more than a decade’, the court remarked in the 79-page ruling.
The Little Bill actor was the first icon tried and convicted in the Me Too campaign, and his conviction was distinguished as a turning point in the movement to hold influential men accountable for wrongdoing.
It is worth noting that at least 50 women have publicly accused Cosby of sexual assault, but he was only convicted for the incident against Andrea Constand.
Soon after the release, the 83-year-old comedian arrived at his stone mansion in Elkins Park. He smiled and nodded when asked if he was happy to be home but did not respond to any of the newsmen.
However, he took to his official handle where he shared a statement. ‘I have never changed my stance nor my story. I have always maintained my innocence,’ the tweet reads.
I have never changed my stance nor my story. I have always maintained my innocence.
Thank you to all my fans, supporters and friends who stood by me through this ordeal. Special thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law. #BillCosby pic.twitter.com/bxELvJWDe5— Bill Cosby (@BillCosby) June 30, 2021
Meanwhile, it seems that that old man doesn’t have many sympathies on his side despite his contributions as a number of celebrities slammed his release.
Celebrities have taken to social media to vent out outrage over the shocking news. Here are some of the reactions:
To every woman who was sexual assaulted by #BillCosby my heart hurts for you today and I am full fury. It’s horrifying.
— Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) June 30, 2021
I GUESS 70 WOMEN WERENT ENOUGH – fuck u bill https://t.co/9dZUPzGx9U #WTF #RAPIST
— ROSIE (@Rosie) June 30, 2021
WHEN will things get better for women and girls regarding sexual assault, sexism, misogyny and ageism?
What will it take?
So discouraged.— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) June 30, 2021
Bill Cosby is STILL an evil rapist .the end.
— ✌🏼rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) June 30, 2021
He raped more than 60 women but I guess that doesnt matter? Anyway, I'm still on my abolition journey. I was fine with him staying in prison for the remainder of his life.
— roxane gay (@rgay) June 30, 2021
Rich, powerful, sexual predator, Jeffrey Epstein got s sweetheart deal from then US attorney, Alex Acosta.
Rich, powerful, sexual-predator Bill Cosby got a sweet-heart, no-prosecution deal from a prosecutor and is getting out of jail.
Anybody else see a pattern, here?
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) June 30, 2021
I am furious to hear this news. I personally know women who this man drugged and raped while unconscious. Shame on the court and this decision. #TimesUp #MeToo
Bill Cosby to Be Freed as Court Overturns His Sex Assault Conviction – The New York Times https://t.co/W34edMi1vw
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) June 30, 2021
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