One of Bill Cosby’s defense attorneys has quit from his retrial
Cosby will back at court on November 6
Bill Cosby will now need a new defense lawyer for his second trial on the sexual assault charges he faces for allegedly drugging and molesting former Temple University basketball manager Andrea Constand in 2004.
Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill declared a mistrial during Cosby’s first trial after the jury was deeply divided — “up the middle” — as they tried to decide if the comedian was guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand in 2004, the anonymous juror told NBC.
Prosecutors said they will retry him on three counts of aggravated indecent assault, a charge that carries 10 years in prison.
According to USA Today, Cosby has until Aug. 21 to find a new lawyer after his lead defense lawyer, Brian McMonagle has quit.
AP reports approximately 60 women have come forward to say Cosby sexually violated them, but the statute of limitations for prosecution had run out in nearly every case. Constand’s case is the only one in which Cosby has been charged with.
She had met Cosby while working for the women’s basketball team at Temple which is how they became friends over conversations about the team and her career.
Constand testified that Cosby had given her pills he claimed were a natural remedy to ease her stress about a looming career change.
“They’re your friends. They’ll take the edge off,” Cosby allegedly said to Constand
Afterwards she started feeling dizzy with blurred vision, slurred words and her legs started to feel like rubber. Cosby then penetrated her with his hand and also placed her hand on his penis and moved it back and forth, Constand said.
She said she was unable to push him away or tell him to stop.
Cosby’s second trial for his sexual assault charges is scheduled to start Nov. 6.