Bill Cosby sentencing: Judge hands comedian 3 to 10 years prison time after ruling him 'sexually violent predator'

Actor's legal team argued in court in Pennsylvania he is too frail to face prison time

Bill Cosby: A timeline of sexual abuse allegations

Bill Cosby has been sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004.

Judge Steven O'Neill has ruled that Cosby is a "sexually violent predator" which means the once-beloved TV comedian is being placed on the sex offender’s registry sent to neighbours, schools and victims. The distinction also requires Cosby to undergo a lifetime of counselling and to report quarterly to authorities.

In April, the 81-year-old actor was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault against ex-basketball player Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia mansion in 2004.

On Monday, prosecutors asked a judge to give the comedian five to 10 years behind bars, while his lawyers asked for house arrest, saying the legally-blind actor was too frail to face jail.

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Key Points

• Psychologist tells court actor should be labelled 'sexually violent predator' with mental illness
• Star a victim of 'mob justice', says wife

[25 September 2018 15:50 · Kristin Hugo]

According to a NBC report, Bill Cosby's attorney Joseph Green asked in court on Monday:

"What does an 81-year-old man do in prison?" 

[25 September 2018 16:05 · Kristin Hugo]

Judge Steven O'Neill will decide whether Bill Cosby meets criteria for "sexually violent predator" before moving to sentencing.

[25 September 2018 16:20 · Kristin Hugo]

Psychologist for the defence, Timothy Foley, testified on Tuesday that he has determined Bill Cosby is not a sexually violent predator after meeting with Cosby for three hours on 18 July and after reviewing some records, The New York Times reports. 

"I found him to be extraordinarily low risk," Dr Foley said.

[25 September 2018 16:35 · Kristin Hugo]

Several jurors from the trial are in attendance at the Pennsylvania Courthouse to watch the sentencing.

[25 September 2018 16:50 · Kristin Hugo]

Video footage of Bill Cosby arriving to the Pennsylvania courthouse this morning in Montgomery County. 

His spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, tells a reporter it is a "rainy beautiful day" as he walks with Cosby. 

[25 September 2018 16:56 · Kristin Hugo]

Judge Steven O'Neill ruled on Tuesday that Bill Cosby is a "sexually violent predator".

Cosby's name will appear on sex-offender registry sent to neighbours, schools and victims. He must undergo lifetime counselling. 

[25 September 2018 17:05 · Kristin Hugo]

Andrea Constand has said subsequent attacks on her character from Bill Cosby's team has left her with "insurmountable stress and anxiety", the AP reports.

Ms Constand also said "life as I knew it" ended the night Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2004. 

Reading her victim impact statement in court on Monday, Ms Constand asked for "justice as the court sees fit". 

[25 September 2018 17:20 · Kristin Hugo]

Several of Bill Cosby's other accusers had arrived to the Pennsylvania courthouse on Tuesday, CNN reports.

[25 September 2018 17:35 · Kristin Hugo]

Bill Cosby's defence team had fought the "sexually violent predator" designation.

They have argued that Pennsylvania's sex-offender law remains unconstitutional despite several revisions. 

[25 September 2018 17:35 · Kristin Hugo]

Judge Steven O'Neill says he will announce the sentence in court at 1:30pm.