Honestly I didn’t think it would happen. Much like OJ Simpson, I didn’t believe that a jury would convict what is in essence a national hero. For the jury to convict “America’s Dad” the evidence must have been overwhelming. In my 18 years of trial experience, I have come to respect the fact that juries are really good at cutting through the BS. Another consideration is the fact that this was the second trial…the first trial was a hung jury. I’ve seen it happen myself on too many occasions where the State gets another bite at the apple to try to convict someone. The State’s case gets stronger after seeing the holes and weaknesses in the first trial. Plus, it seems that judges are more willing to allow in questionable evidence that was not presented or allowed in the first trial in an effort to tip the scales one way or the other. The fact that other accusers were permitted to testify in Cosby’s second trial may have been all the jury needed to feel comfortable with their own verdict. While the defense was able to put on evidence that Constand made statements about framing a celebrity for financial gain, trying to destroy the credibility of the victim is always a tricky and precarious position for a defense attorney in a jury trial. In today’s #MeToo movement, it seems celebrities and other high-profile men are denied their most basic Constitutional right to innocence until proven guilty. Instead, they are guilty until proven innocent. Cosby’s defense team was clearly not able to prove him innocent. Or, did the jury simply cut through the BS?
Special thanks to Inside Edition – YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5slcWE8kT3Y
