Bill Cosby's Jury Selection Racially One-Sided: Lawyer
Bill Cosby's defense lawyers accused Pennsylvania prosecutors Tuesday of trying to keep black jurors off the mostly white panel that will decide if the comedian is guilty or innocent of sexual assault. More than 50 women have come forward over the last two years accusing Cosby of rape and sexual assault decades ago.
"We believe this is systematic exclusion of African-Americans," defense lawyer Brian McMonagle reportedly complained, registering what's known as a Batson challenge after a woman jury was removed from the panel because of her history of a scandal.
"We believe it is of paramount importance we seat a diverse jury," McMonagle said, adding that it would be a "potential horrible problem" if the jury giving the verdict for the black comedian against accusation from a white woman was racially one-sided.
Read: Bill Cosby Net Worth As Jury Selection For Sexual Assault Trial Begins
Assistant District Attorney Stewart Ryan denied race was the reason for removing the black woman from the panel. Her background, Ryan said sparked concern that she could have a "bias against governmental entities."
The 79-year-old is scheduled to go to trial June 5 on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his Pennsylvania mansion in January 2004. Cosby, however, has pleaded not guilty and denied all claims.
In his first public interview in over two years earlier this month, Cosby blamed racism and also slammed the accusers for “piling on” charges against him in order to draw public attention.
“Could be, could be,” Cosby said about racism being a factor in the case while speaking to SiriusXM, a U.S. broadcasting company's host Michael Smerconish for a segment which was aired Tuesday. “I can’t say anything, but there are certain things that I look at and I apply to the situation and there are so many tentacles. So many different — nefarious is a great word. And I just truly believe that some of it may very well be that.”
When Smerconish pointed out that Cosby’s accusers are both black and white, the comedian replied: “Let me put it to you this way: When you look at the power structure and when you look at individuals, there are some people who can very well be motivated by whether or not they’re going to work. Or whether or not they might be able to get back at someone. So if it’s in terms of whatever the choice is, I think that you can also examine individuals and situations and they will come out differently. So it’s not all, not every, but I do think that there’s some.”
Cosby's daughter Esna Cosby also said that she believes racism had a role to play in the scandal. "I strongly believe my father is innocent of the crimes alleged against him and I believe that racism has played a big role in all aspects of this scandal," she said.
“How my father is being punished by a society that still believes black men rape white women; but pass off 'boys will be boys' when white men are accused and how the politics of our country prove my disgust. My father has been publicly lynched in the media,” she further added.
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