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 Prosecutors have portrayed the entertainer as a serial predator
who hid behind his kindly television persona, while defense
lawyers say he has been the victim of women fabricating stories
about him in pursuit of wealth and fame.
Cosby, 80, the once-beloved black comedian and TV dad who won
over white America on "The Cosby Show" in the 1980s, is on trial
on three counts of aggravated indecent assault of Andrea
Constand, 45, at his home outside Philadelphia in January 2004.
Cosby has denied the charges, saying any sexual contact was
consensual.
The jury, sequestered since the trial began on April 9, was due
to begin day two of deliberations at 9 a.m. on Thursday, after a
six-hour session on Wednesday, when jurors asked to rehear parts
of the case. A previous jury failed to reach a verdict last
June, leading to a second trial.
After receiving instructions from Judge Steven O'Neill on
Wednesday morning, the jury raised questions three times.
Two hours into deliberations, the jury asked for the legal
definition of "consent" in a sexual assault case.
O'Neill said the question could not be answered.
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Another question concerned a jury request to see two documents
prepared by Jackson outlining her accusations against Constand,
which O'Neill denied, and the content of several stipulations about
evidence, which he granted.
A third question asked for the rereading of the Cosby deposition and
Jackson's testimony.
Jackson, who was barred from testifying in the first trial, told the
court Constand once told her "it would be easy" to fabricate an
accusation of sexual assault against a celebrity to make money.
Cosby has remained free on bail. If convicted, he faces up to 10
years in prison for each of the three counts, although sentencing
guidelines call for the terms to be served concurrently.
The first trial ended in mistrial last June, just before a flood of
sexual assault and harassment accusations against rich and powerful
men gave rise to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.
(Reporting by David DeKok; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Bill
Tarrant and Michael Perry)
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