Jurors deliberate Bill Cosby's fate for second day

Bill Cosby departs after his sexual assault trial, Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Bill Cosby departs after his sexual assault trial, Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Published Apr 26, 2018

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NORRISTOWN - A Pennsylvania jury of

seven men and five women will resume deliberations for a second

day on Thursday to decide whether to convict comedian and actor

Bill Cosby of sexual assault.

Prosecutors have portrayed the entertainer as a serial

predator who hid behind his kindly television persona, while

defense lawyers say he has been the victim of women fabricating

stories about him in pursuit of wealth and fame.

Cosby, 80, the once-beloved black comedian and TV dad who

won over white America on "The Cosby Show" in the 1980s, is on

trial on three counts of aggravated indecent assault of Andrea

Constand, 45, at his home outside Philadelphia in January 2004.

Cosby has denied the charges, saying any sexual contact was

consensual.

The jury, sequestered since the trial began on April 9, was

due to begin day two of deliberations at 9 a.m. on Thursday,

after a six-hour session on Wednesday, when jurors asked to

rehear parts of the case. A previous jury failed to reach a

verdict last June, leading to a second trial.

ALSO READ: Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial goes to the jury

After receiving instructions from Judge Steven O'Neill on

Wednesday morning, the jury raised questions three times.

Two hours into deliberations, the jury asked for the legal

definition of "consent" in a sexual assault case.

O'Neill said the question could not be answered.

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.

A third question asked for the rereading of the Cosby

deposition and Jackson's testimony.

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.

The first trial ended in mistrial last June, just before a

flood of sexual assault and harassment accusations against rich

and powerful men gave rise to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. 

Reuters

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