Abuse allegations – Bill Cosby: America’s favorite dad to court – Süddeutsche.de

• Bill Cosby is after the arrest on bail of one million dollars released.
• The TV star is accused of sexual assault. Triggers are findings from a civil action that were public in summer.
• The 78-year-old could face up to ten years in prison, in court could testify more alleged victims.

From Johannes Kuhn, New Orleans

Based on his two lawyers and a cane, surrounded by dozens of reporters and numerous cameras Bill Cosby went on his way to the courthouse. No, he had nothing to say, signaled the 78-year-old with a grim shake of the head.

The scene in Elkins Park, Cosby’s residence on the outskirts of Philadelphia, is the beginning of a new chapter for the man who once ” America’s Favorite Dad “was called: After more than 50 women have filed rape charges against the comedy icon, it comes for the first time on the indictment. The prosecutor of the district Montgomery County accuses him serious sexual duress before and speaks of “overwhelming evidence”.

In January 2004, Cosby is the basketball coach Andrea Constand stunned at his home with wine and tablets and then with his Hand have sexually abused. also why

Just before the statute of limitations

District Attorney Kevin Steele brought an indictment at this stage, because the facts were time-barred in the course of January. The case has also still a local political component: Steele, yet its authority deputy head, was just elected until the supreme prosecutor and had promised during the election campaign to sue Cosby. He explained that it “was not a question, but the duty was” to reopen the case.

On Wednesday, the actor left after a quarter of an hour, the court, before a deposit of one million dollars had agreed and of which $ 100,000 deposited in order to put the present warrant except law enforcement. He also had to give up his passport, can be treated fingerprinted and undertake to look no contact with the alleged victim. Cosby threatened by the laws of the State of a maximum sentence of up to ten years.

The police recording, the so-called” Mugshot “as part of the identification procedures Cosby ,

(Photo: dpa )

Constand Cosby had already before 2005 a civil court sued. In July, a court had approved the filing with the testimony of the parties – this was the occasion for the local prosecutor’s office to take up the investigation again. In the protocols Constand describes how Cosby had initially acted as her mentor.

He did, however, molested one evening and talked with another meeting to taking pills, their effect was similar knockout drops to abusing it. Cosby himself said at the time, given her only an anti-Allergikum and to have made the sexual acts in connivance (Quote: “I hear you say anything I feel they do not say anything.”)

Next date on. January 14

In the file itself describes the main character of the Cosby Show as a notorious playboy who have administered in the seventies women also the drug methaqualone, which was then used for its anxiolytic effect as a party drug , The two parties finally agreed out of court.

This time, it will probably come to the process. The well-known lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents 29 other alleged victim, already explained, many of her client Inside were willing to give evidence. Cosby’s lawyers had filed a few days ago defamation lawsuit against seven other women who accuse him of rape. The 78-year-old self manifests itself not publicly on the allegations. His lawyers told that he would fight against the “unwarranted” charges.

it go

In the now opened method not only about credibility and justice. The Cosby Show helped in the eighties, dismantle stereotypes about black families. Cosby himself was considered a moral authority that anmahnte family values ​​and extremely severe verdict on the state of black America. Cosby as TV shows, public person and a private person will now be negotiated – and with it the question of whether celebrities before the US Justice enjoy a special position. The next court date is on January 14, 2016

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