Bill Cosby got a big break in his case on Friday, February 24, 2017. Prosecutors wanted all 13 women who accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them a more than a decade ago to testify. However, a judge ruled that only one woman would testify against the 79-year-old comedian instead of the long list of women who wanted to do so.
The television personality should be relieved that only woman is allowed to testify against him. The prosecutors wanted all the women to testify to establish a pattern of behavior, but when Cosby goes on trial in June the testimony come from only one woman, and the accusers will not be allowed to testify against Cosby whose reputation has been already been ruined.
Reasons only one woman will testify
Even though approximately 50 women came forward to accuse Cosby, prosecutors reduced the list to only 13 women. Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill explained why he ruled that only one person would testify. He explained his ruling in a one-page document that if all the women were allowed to testify, prejudice would probably be directed toward Cosby. Cosby's attorney had already pointed out some of the women's allegations were vague and would not have been valuable to the case one way or the other. Because of the judge's ruling, the trial is sure to be a much shorter one since only Victim No. 6 will testify.
Cosby's situation
Cosby has maintained his innocence by saying the sex was consensual with the women.
Now that only one person is testifying, Cosby's attorneys are optimistic. That's because Cosby is in a much better situation than if all the women had been allowed to testify. After Friday's ruling, there was no comment from Bill Cosby. However, his attorneys think he has gotten a much needed legal break.
The disgraced television star is free on $1 million bail, but if he is convicted, he could be sentenced to 10 years in prison. Cosby is appearing in court again on Monday to request jurors be chosen from another county because of the increased publicity surrounding the case in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
