Bill Cosby released: Actor speaks out on his ‘innocence’ after sex assault conviction overturned
Follow the latest developments as Bill Cosby is released from prison
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Bill Cosby remained silent as his legal team spoke during a press conference outside his house following his release from prison Wednesday, just hours after Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned his 2018 sexual assault conviction.
Speaking outside Mr Cosby’s home, his lawyer said the 83-year-old former television star is “feeling free”.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections said Mr Cosby had been released shortly after the state’s Supreme Court’s decision was revealed.
It comes after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that an agreement with a previous prosecutor, Bruce Castor - the attorney who represented former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial - prevented Mr Cosby from being charged in the case.
Mr Cosby had been convicted of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, a Temple University employee, at his estate.
The former television star has already served more than two years of a three- to 10-year sentence at a state prison.
He had been prepared to serve out all 10 years rather than express remorse over the allegations against him over the 2004 encounter with Ms Constand.
It is unclear exactly when he will be released from prison following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision.
Follow live updates below.
‘Our justice system MUST change’: Celebrities slam Bill Cosby’s overturned conviction
Celebrities expressed outrage at Bill Cosby’s overturned conviction by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday.
“I don't want to hear anything about how cancel culture ruined men's lives during the MeToo era reckoning for women and survivors,” wrote actor Amber Tamblyn on Twitter. “How we went too far. Today's news that Cosby's conviction is being overturned is proof we haven't gone far enough. Our justice system MUST change.”
“THIS is why women do not come forward,” agreed writer E Jean Carroll, who has accused former President Donald Trump of raping her in a Manhattan department store in the Nineties.
Rachel Brodsky reports.
Gloria Allred commends those who ‘bravely testified'
Attorney Gloria Allred has commended those who “bravely testified” in Bill Cosby’s criminal cases.
Speaking on Good Morning America, she said: “Despite the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision, this was an important fight for justice.”
Bill Cosby waves from inside car after prison release
Bill Cosby was seen waving to press from inside a car after being released from prison.
Mr Cosby could be seen holding up his hand as he drove away.
He appeared to be smiling.
Cosby accuser Beth Ferrier brands prison release ‘bulls***’
Beth Ferrier, who accused Bill Cosby of having sexually assaulted her in 1984, has expressed outrage over the former television star’s release, calling it “bulls***”.
“It’s bulls***! I think it’s all bulls***,” Ms Ferrier told The New York Post.
“It’s money and power,” she said.
Ms Ferrier said she believed the decision to release him “sets a precedent”.
“It’s not OK,” she said, asserting that she was “floored” by the decision.
Ms Ferrier also said she feared that Mr Cosby might “become world famous again”.
“What will we get from it? He took everything from us,” she said, asserting: “I’m anxious to see what comes of this.”
Cosby home after prison release
Bill Cosby has arrived at home after being released from prison, according to Reuters.
The former television star was released and made his way home less than two hours after Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court overturned his 2018 sexual assault conviction.
The state’s highest court said Mr Cosby never should have faced charges after striking a non-prosecution deal with a previous district attorney - Bruce Castor, who represented former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial - more than 15 years ago.
‘Good day for the Cosby family’, reps say
Speaking outside Bill Cosby’s home, the actor’s legal team has hailed his release as a “good day for the Cosby family”.
Mr Cosby did not speak for himself, however, a representative of his legal team said he is “extremely happy” to be home.
They claimed that he had the “rug pulled from underneath him” when he was convicted and imprisoned over the sexual assault allegations against him in 2018.
Another representative said it was a “good day for the Cosby family”.
Cosby punches his fist in air during press conference as lawyer says ‘he’s feeling free’
Bill Cosby punched his fist in the air during a press conference following his prison release as a representative for the actor said “he’s feeling free”.
The presser came just hours after news that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court had overturned Mr Cosby’s 2018 sexual assault conviction.
Graeme Massie reports:
Cosby lawyer says actor was not ‘treated fairly'
Speaking at a press conference outside Bill Cosby’s house, one of the actor’s lawyers said his client was not “treated fairly”.
“We’ve said from day one, we just didn’t think he was treated fairly.”
“And that...the system has to be fair, and fortunately the Supreme Court agreed with us,” said one of his lawyers Brian Perry.
The Supreme Court overturned Mr Cosby’s 2018 sexual assault conviction on a technicality.
The court found that an agreement with a previous prosecutor, Bruce Castor - the attorney who represented former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial - should have blocked Mr Cosby from being charged in the case.
Dylan Farrow posts a comment regarding Bill Cosby, James Franco
Dylan Farrow posted a comment to her social media accounts regarding Mr Cosby and today’s news that actor James Franco had settled a 2020 sexual assault lawsuit.
“The fact that Bill Cosby, after being accused by 60 brave women, could have his conviction overturned by a technicality, and that James Franco could settle for millions of dollars as "compensation" for the lifetime of trauma is a travesty,” Farrow wrote.
Farrow, 35, has long alleged that her adopted father, director Woody Allen, sexually abused her when she was a child. She has been a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual abuse.
The Franco lawsuit first came about in October 2020 when two former acting students of the actor’s, Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, alleged that they and other students at Studio 4 Film School in New York and Los Angeles had been victims of fraud.
Today, it was announced that Franco and associated parties would reportedly pay a settlement of $2,235,000 to resolve the lawsuit.
Andrea Constand reacts to Bill Cosby’s conviction overturned
Andrea Constand has shared her response to Bill Cosby’s conviction being overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
In a lengthy message shared via Twitter, Constand called the ruling “not only disappointing but of concern because it may discourage those who seek justice for sexual assault in the criminal justice system from reporting or participating in the prosecution of the assailant”.
In September 2018, the actor and comedian was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for the drugging and assault of Constand, a former Temple University administrator, at his Philadelphia mansion in 2004.
Today, however, the Supreme Court overturned Mr Cosby’s sexual assault conviction on a technicality.
The court found that an agreement with a previous prosecutor, Bruce Castor - the attorney who represented former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial - should have blocked Mr Cosby from being charged in the case.
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