BILL Cosby avoided renewed legal jeopardy on Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a bid by prosecutors to undo last year's ruling in Pennsylvania that overturned the 84-year-old actor and comedian's 2018 sexual assault conviction.
The justices let stand the decision by a divided Pennsylvania Supreme Court that Cosby should never have faced the charges because a previous local district attorney had publicly promised in 2005 not to prosecute him, turning away an appeal by prosecutors. The state court's ruling freed Cosby after he spent nearly three years in state prison, angering sexual assault victims and their advocates.
Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison following his conviction on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, a former employee of his alma mater Temple University, at his home in 2004.
He was the first celebrity to be convicted of sexual abuse since the #MeToo movement began exposing sexual misconduct among powerful men in Hollywood and beyond.
Cosby is best known for his role as the lovable husband and father in the classic 1980s television comedy series "The Cosby Show." He also was an influential stand-up comedian.
His family-friendly reputation was shattered after more than 50 women accused him of sexual assaults spanning nearly five decades. Constand's allegations were the only ones against Cosby that were not too old to allow for criminal charges.
His lawyers argued on appeal that Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele should not have charged Cosby in 2015 in the Constand case because Bruce Castor, who previously held the job, had declined to file criminal charges and issued a press release announcing his decision.
Steele on Monday said appealing to the Supreme Court in a bid to reinstate the conviction was the right thing to do, and expressed his appreciation to Constand.
"All crime victims deserve to be heard, treated with respect and be supported through their day in court. I wish her the best as she moves forward in her life," Steele said.
Cosby's attorney Jennifer Bonjean told Reuters: "Although we are relieved to have this saga behind us, it is not the least bit surprising" that the Supreme Court denied the district attorney's appeal, calling it "patently frivolous."
The earlier refusal to prosecute meant Cosby could not avoid testifying in a civil case Constand had brought against him, which led to a multimillion-dollar settlement. That testimony, in which Cosby acknowledged giving sedatives to women, played a role in Steele's criminal case against Cosby.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court in June 2021 ruled that the prosecution was fundamentally unfair because Cosby had relied on Castor's promise to his detriment, in violation of Cosby's right to due process of law under the U.S. Constitution.
In appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, Steele said the state court's "dangerous precedent" wrongly transformed a bare press release into an effective immunity that has "paved the road for thousands of other defendants to raise this issue and to seek similar windfalls."
Cosby's first trial ended with a hung jury in 2017, when jurors could not reach a unanimous decision on his culpability. He was convicted at a second trial after the judge let prosecutors call as witnesses five prior accusers - four more than in the first trial.
Prosecutors argued that Cosby's assault of Constand was a well-rehearsed offense he had honed over decades: befriending younger women and acting as a mentor, only to sexually assault them, often with the assistance of drugs.
Reuters
Tue Mar 08 2022
![US Supreme Court nixes bid to reinstate Bill Cosby's conviction US Supreme Court nixes bid to reinstate Bill Cosby's conviction](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-03/41646715167_BillCosby.jpg)
The state court's ruling freed Cosby after he spent nearly three years in state prison, angering sexual assault victims and their advocates. - REUTERS/Filepic
![Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721113188_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh
Donald Trump menghadiri Konvensyen Kebangsaan Republikan pada malam Isnin, penampilan umum pertamanya sejak terselamat daripada cubaan bunuh.
![Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71715148599_wismaputra.jpg)
Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat
Wisma Putra melalui Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Muscat, Oman sedang giat menyelaras usaha dengan pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.
![Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112073_PangonHarimauMal.jpg)
Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya
Kim Pan-gon memiliki rekod yang cukup baik bersama Malaysia, menjadi pengendali Harimau Malaya paling banyak mendapatkan keputusan yang positif sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.
![Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112865_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa
Kementerian Komunikasi hari ini mengumumkan Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa pada harga tidak melebihi RM30.
![Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719647184_LionelMessi.jpg)
Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan
Kapten Argentina, Lionel Messi berharap agar beliau cepat pulih daripada kecederaan buku lali yang dialaminya perlawanan akhir Copa America.
![MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721105894_AhmadZahidHamidi.jpg)
MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid
MARA diminta untuk terus meneroka potensi antarabangsa dalam industri halal yang mempunyai prospek besar menerusi program Gate to Global (GTG).
Saya akan rindu bau durian - Kim Pan-gon
Menurut Kim Pan-gon, beliau akan tetap bangga dengan pasukan bola sepak Malaysia walaupun dimana beliau berada.
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan berikutan komitmen peribadi
Pengurus pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia, Kim Pan-gon menyatakan perletakan jawatan tersebut kerana komitmen peribadi.
#AWANInews
#AWANInews
![Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721102997_SimposiumDronKeban.jpg)
Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi
Penggunaan dron membolehkan pemantauan pencemaran alam sekitar dan hidupan liar serta pencerobohan hutan dilaksanakan dengan lebih berkesan.
![Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih, akan terus rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih, akan terus rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718142997_KimPanGon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih, akan terus rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia
Beliau telah mengadakan pertemuan dengan Presiden FAM Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, sebelum kedua-dua mereka mencapai persetujuan berhubung keputusannya itu.
![Bill Cosby sekali lagi disaman dakwaan terbaharu serangan seksual Bill Cosby sekali lagi disaman dakwaan terbaharu serangan seksual](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/41638239675_TBBILLCOSBYCONVICTE.jpg)
Bill Cosby sekali lagi disaman dakwaan terbaharu serangan seksual
Valentino memfailkan kes itu di Mahkamah Tinggi Daerah Los Angeles pada Jumaat mengikut undang-undang baharu.
![Pendakwa raya gesa Mahkamah Tinggi kembalikan sabitan serangan seksual Bill Cosby Pendakwa raya gesa Mahkamah Tinggi kembalikan sabitan serangan seksual Bill Cosby](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/41638239675_TBBILLCOSBYCONVICTE.jpg)
Pendakwa raya gesa Mahkamah Tinggi kembalikan sabitan serangan seksual Bill Cosby
Cosby menghadapi bertubi-tubi dakwaan serangan seksual yang kemudian memusnahkan imejnya sebagai "American Dad"
![Bill Cosby bebas selepas mahkamah batal sabitan cabul Bill Cosby bebas selepas mahkamah batal sabitan cabul](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-10/51603246358_COSBY.jpg)
Bill Cosby bebas selepas mahkamah batal sabitan cabul
Cosby sebelum ini dipenjara 10 tahun atas kesalahan mencabul bekas pemain bola keranjang Andrea Constand.
![Pelawak Bill Cosby dipenjara 3 hingga 10 tahun Pelawak Bill Cosby dipenjara 3 hingga 10 tahun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-09/61537912698_BillCosby.jpg)
Pelawak Bill Cosby dipenjara 3 hingga 10 tahun
Mahkamah daerah Montgomery menolak permohonan ikat jamin Cosby sekali gus menyaksikan beliau bermalam di penjara sementara menanti proses rayuan oleh pihak pembelaan.
![Serangan seksual: Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski disingkir akademi seni Serangan seksual: Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski disingkir akademi seni](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-05/51525407661_billcosbyromanpolan.jpg)
Serangan seksual: Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski disingkir akademi seni
Bekas lagenda komedi Bill Cosby dan pengarah filem Roman Polanski dibuang dari Akademi Sains dan Seni Perfileman kerana tuduhan melakukan serangan seksual.
![Cosby bersalah serangan seksual puluhan mangsa Cosby bersalah serangan seksual puluhan mangsa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-04/41524781605_TBBILLCOSBYCONVICTE.jpg)
Cosby bersalah serangan seksual puluhan mangsa
Juri yang bersidang lebih 14 jam untuk dua hari, mendapati Bill Cosby bersalah kesemua tiga tuduhan serangan seksual.
![Aktivis separuh bogel ancam Bill Cosby Aktivis separuh bogel ancam Bill Cosby](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-04/81523335742_BillCosby.jpg)
Aktivis separuh bogel ancam Bill Cosby
Seorang aktivis wanita mencetuskan kekecohan di luar mahkamah semalam, apabila cuba menyerang pelawak terkenal Bill Cosby.
![Fakta anda perlu tahu tentang bekas ikon komedi Bill Cosby Fakta anda perlu tahu tentang bekas ikon komedi Bill Cosby](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-01/51451785898_BillCosby.jpg)
Fakta anda perlu tahu tentang bekas ikon komedi Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby merupakan nama besar dalam dunia penyiaran dan pernah diangkat sebagai ikon komedi satu ketika dahulu.
![Cosby akan dibicara atas tuduhan seksual - Hakim Cosby akan dibicara atas tuduhan seksual - Hakim](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-02/81454462760_BillCosby.jpg)
Cosby akan dibicara atas tuduhan seksual - Hakim
Seorang hakim di Pennsylvania pada Rabu memutuskan bahawa legenda televisyen, Bill Cosby sepatutnya dibicarakan atas tuduhan serangan seksual ke atas seorang wanita di kediamannya di Philadelphia.
![35 wanita dakwa dirogol Bill Cosby tampil di muka depan majalah 'New York' 35 wanita dakwa dirogol Bill Cosby tampil di muka depan majalah 'New York'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-07/41437991721_NewYorkMagazine.jpg)
35 wanita dakwa dirogol Bill Cosby tampil di muka depan majalah 'New York'
Muka hadapan majalah berkenaan turut menampilkan kerusi ke-36 untuk mewakili mangsa seterusnya untuk bersuara.