Bill Cosby’s Lawyers Argue For New Trial, Call The Sex Crimes Conviction “Fundamentally Unfair”

Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby’s Lawyers Argue For New Trial, Call The Sex Crimes Conviction “Fundamentally Unfair”

Bill Cosby’s lawyers have filed an appeal, seeking a new trial for the 83 year old comedian and actor. The lawyers are arguing that it was “fundamentally unfair” to allow prosecutors to use the disgraced comedian’s deposition from an earlier sex abuse lawsuit filed against him. The appeal, which was filed with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, claims that Bill Cosby agreed to testify in the civil suit under the promise made with a prosecutor that he would not be charged in that case.

The deposition included damaging testimony about multiple sexual encounters Bill had with young women over the years and admitted that he used quaaludes to sedate women that he wanted to grope. He was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in his mansion back in 2004 and is being held at a maximum security prison outside of Philadelphia after he was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison in September of 2018. His conviction was seen as a huge moment for the #MeToo movement.

Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby’s lawyers won the right to appeal the decision two months ago. They claim that the trial was unfair to Bill because prosecutors brought five accusers who shared their testimony with the jury a series of uncharged sexual misconduct claims, with some claims dating back to the 1970s. These testimonies along with the deposition according to the lawyers, were “irrelevant evidence that served no legitimate non-propensity purpose.”

The lawyers are still relying on a prosecutor’s promises to not bring charges when the former comedian agreed to testify in the lawsuit,

“Although the evidence was purportedly allowed for a limited purpose, the prosecution’s closing argument shows that the jury was urged to return a verdict against Cosby based on a depiction of him, unsupported by actual evidence, as a predator who drugged and raped women for decades.”

Bill Cosby

Back in July, we reported that he still owes his lawyers $2.75 million in legal fees, according to reports. Last year (2019), Bill was ordered by a judge to pay his lawyers, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, after attempting to challenge the bill. Although the actor and his insurance, AIG, have paid over $4 million towards the bill, his debt is still overdue. Due to a 10% interest rate, Bill’s balance has now increased to $2.98 million.

What are your thoughts on Bill Cosby’s lawyers appealing his conviction and arguing for a new trial? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.