By MICHAEL R. SISAK
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — The judge in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial gave his legal defense a huge boost Tuesday, ruling his lawyers can call a witness who says the accuser talked about framing a celebrity before she went to police in 2005 with allegations about the comedian.
Judge Steven O’Neill also helped the defense case by ruling that jurors can hear how much Cosby paid accuser Andrea Constand in a 2006 civil settlement.
O’Neill ruled that Marguerite Jackson can take the witness stand after he blocked her from testifying at the first trial — which ended in a hung jury — saying her testimony would be hearsay.
Jackson’s testimony is crucial to a defense plan to portray Constand as a greedy liar. Constand’s lawyer has said Jackson isn’t telling the truth. The judge issued one caveat to the ruling, saying he could revisit his decision after Constand’s testimony.
O’Neill also hinted during a pretrial hearing last week that he could keep jurors from hearing Cosby’s prior testimony in a deposition about giving quaaludes to women before sex. He said he won’t rule on that until it’s brought up at the retrial.
Tuesday’s rulings came ahead of the second day of jury selection in suburban Philadelphia. Cosby swung his cane and said, “Good morning, good morning,” as he walked into the courtroom.
Just one juror was seated as jury selection began Monday. Things moved at a far quicker pace on the opening day of Cosby’s first trial last spring, when five jurors were selected.
The young man picked as a retrial juror said he did not know anything about Cosby’s case. Nearly everyone else in the initial jury pool of 120 suburban Philadelphia residents indicated they knew about the charges against Cosby.
Three-quarters of them were sent home for cause — the majority because they said they already have formed an opinion about Cosby’s guilt or innocence.
That left just 27 people invited back for individual questioning on Tuesday as prosecutors and Cosby’s lawyers work to fill 17 remaining jury spots. Another group of 120 potential jurors also was also being brought in, in case they do not make the cut.
Meanwhile, The Associated Press and other news organizations filed a legal motion Tuesday to challenge an arrangement that forces reporters to watch the proceedings on a closed-circuit feed from another courtroom. The camera shows the judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers, but not potential jurors who are being questioned as a group.
Cosby’s lawyers objected to having reporters in the courtroom because they feared it could hurt their ability to find a fair and impartial jury.
Montgomery County President Judge Thomas DelRicci said he would schedule a hearing on the news media’s request.
Cosby is charged with drugging and sexually molesting Constand, a Temple University women’s basketball administrator, at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. He says the encounter was consensual.
Picking a jury has proven particularly tough after the #MeToo movement started toppling famous men in rapid succession months after Cosby’s first trial ended in a deadlock.
All but one of the people in the initial group of potential jurors said they were aware of the #MeToo movement or the allegations it spurred against powerful entertainment figures. The lone person who claimed ignorance on #MeToo was not invited back.
Veteran lawyers and jury consultants say #MeToo could cut both ways for Cosby, making some potential jurors more hostile and others more likely to think men are being unfairly accused.
In all, prosecutors and the defense removed a total of 91 potential jurors before breaking on Monday.
Last year’s trial was mostly a he-said-she-said. For the retrial, O’Neill has ruled jurors can hear from five additional accusers, giving prosecutors a chance to portray Cosby — the former TV star once revered as “America’s Dad” for his family sitcom “The Cosby Show” — as a serial predator.
The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.
Source: Oc Register
Bill Cosby trial judge delivers 2 big victories to defense
More from CrimeMore posts in Crime »
- ‘He will be remembered as our hero:’ Slain deputy honored at Santa Clarita vigil
- Susan Samueli leads new focus on old problem: human trafficking
- Disgusted parents taking fentanyl fight to a ballot box near you
- Hunter Biden indicted on federal gun charges
- Robbers take vitamins and medications from Rite Aid store in Brea
More from entertainmentMore posts in entertainment »
- Hahn, Kounalakis urge Swift to call off SoFi concerts in support of striking hotel workers
- Barbie’s latest look is diverse. But is it toying with fans?
- Shakespeare by the Sea returns to LA and Orange counties for 26th season
- Cruel World festival brings vintage punk, new wave, goth to Pasadena
- WWE just made the dreams of 20 Make-A-Wish kids come true
More from National NewsMore posts in National News »
- Photos: Dianne Feinstein, the oldest sitting U.S. Senator, dies at 90
- Why green air travel will save US corn farmers from extinction
- Colin Kaepernick asked Jets to join practice squad after Aaron Rodgers injury
- Did you play? Monday night’s $785M Powerball jackpot is 9th largest lottery prize.
- As migrants overwhelm a Texas border city, others wait in Mexico for appointments to enter the US
More from NewsMore posts in News »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- Former Anaheim Councilmember Jordan Brandman found dead at his home
- Last F-18 training squadron is decommissioned at Miramar marking the end of an era
- Man suspected of arson in Laguna Beach is arrested
More from Top Stories BreezeMore posts in Top Stories Breeze »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
- Caltrans keeps an eye out for possible damage by homeless encampments
More from top stories ivdbMore posts in top stories ivdb »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
- With affordability low, starter homes see the largest price gains
More from Top Stories LADNMore posts in Top Stories LADN »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- Thai sweatshop workers, enslaved for years in El Monte, are now honored
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
More from Top Stories LBPTMore posts in Top Stories LBPT »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
- Caltrans keeps an eye out for possible damage by homeless encampments
More from Top Stories OCRMore posts in Top Stories OCR »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- Former Anaheim Councilmember Jordan Brandman found dead at his home
- Last F-18 training squadron is decommissioned at Miramar marking the end of an era
- Man suspected of arson in Laguna Beach is arrested
More from Top Stories PEMore posts in Top Stories PE »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- Thai sweatshop workers, enslaved for years in El Monte, are now honored
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
More from Top Stories PSNMore posts in Top Stories PSN »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- Thai sweatshop workers, enslaved for years in El Monte, are now honored
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
More from top stories rdfMore posts in top stories rdf »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
- Caltrans keeps an eye out for possible damage by homeless encampments
More from Top Stories SGVTMore posts in Top Stories SGVT »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- Thai sweatshop workers, enslaved for years in El Monte, are now honored
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
More from top stories sunMore posts in top stories sun »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
- Caltrans keeps an eye out for possible damage by homeless encampments
More from Top Stories WDNMore posts in Top Stories WDN »
- Photos: Step inside the California GOP event that drew Trump, other candidates and large crowds
- Before California Republicans, Vivek Ramaswamy positions himself as a political outsider
- McCarthy’s last-ditch plan collapses, making government shutdown almost certain
- Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing: Man tied to suspected shooter arrested, AP sources say
- Caltrans keeps an eye out for possible damage by homeless encampments
Be First to Comment