Opening statements begin Monday in Bill Cosby’s retrial on sexual assault charges stemming from an alleged encounter in 2004 at his home near Philadelphia.
Andrea Constand, a former Temple University women’s basketball official who says Cosby drugged and molested her, will testify along with as many as five other accusers.
During opening remarks at the previous trial, former defense attorney Brian McMonagle told jurors “sexual assault is a terrible crime. It takes away dignity. The only thing worse than that is the false accusation of sexual assault.”
On the contrary, Assistant District Attorney Kristen Feded told jurors “This is a case about a man who used his power and his fame and his previously practiced method of placing a young, trusting woman in an incapacitated state so that he’d sexually pleasure himself, so that she couldn’t say no.”
After intense deliberations — jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. All of their questions revolved around the accuser’s inconsistent statements. Below is a timeline of some key moments during the previous trial.
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Andrea Constand’s Inconsistencies
Andrea Constand called Cosby 53 times following the alleged encounter — at times sitting on the phone for 45 minutes, according to records presented at the previous trial.
Constand gave several contradicting accounts as to what happened to various law enforcement agencies, including one in Toronto, Canada.
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Constand’s Original Police Report
Constand called the Durham County Police in Toronto, Canada one year after the alleged assault, stating that the incident occurred after she had gone to dinner with Cosby and some friends in Philadelphia.
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2017 Testimony
Constand testified she was mistaken and that she was not out to dinner before the alleged sexual assault. Constand testified that she was assaulted after visiting Cosby’s estate in regards to her interest in becoming a massage therapist.
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Constand’s Original Police Report
Constand did not tell Durham County Police that she had spent time in a bedroom alone with Cosby in the past.
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2017 Testimony
Constand later testified that she went to Foxwoods Casino with Cosby and a friend. According to Constand, Cosby invited her to his room for dessert. Constand mentioned she was interested in “baked goods” that Cosby had offered her. After conversing with Cosby, Constand testified that she sat on the foot of his bed while he laid down and closed his eyes. According to Constand, the comedian had his eyes closed in that position for approximately 10 minutes before telling Cosby “I should probably go now – you’re tired.” Cosby then walked her to the door. The former manager of Foxwoods Casino is scheduled to testify at the retrial.
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Constand’s Original Police Report
Constand told Durham County detectives that her contact with Cosby was very brief and rare following the incident.
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2017 Trial
According to evidence presented to the previous jury, Constand contacted Cosby 72 times via telephone following the alleged assault, including 9 times on Valentine’s Day and 30 minutes before contacting the Durham County Police Department.
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Constand’s Original Police Report
Detective David Mason of the Durham County Intelligence Branch testified that Constand told them that she was in the process of finding an attorney who specializes in sexual assault lawsuits in Philadelphia before contacting them.
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2017 Testimony
Constand testified that she did not tell police that she had contacted any attorneys in Philadelphia – but soon retracted that statement after reviewing the original police report.
Evidence presented to the jury showed Constand searched for numerous attorneys and contacted a number of civil lawyers before finding one who finally took the case.
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Constand’s Original Police Report
Constand told police she waited one year before reporting the incident to police because she was interested in pursuing a career in sports broadcasting.
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2017 Testimony
Constand testified Tuesday that she had not told police that she had an interest in sports broadcasting, however, she recanted that statement after reviewing the police report.
Constand mentioned an additional reason that deterred her from calling the police was fear. “I was scared. I wanted guidance and I wanted to protect myself. I felt if I had gone to the police that Mr. Cosby would retaliate and try to hurt me, so I wanted to protect myself.”
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Constand’s Original Police Report
Constand told police she introduced herself to Cosby on her 2005 police report to Durham Police to offer him a tour of the facility.
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2017 Testimony
Constand testified that a major donor to Temple University introduced her to Cosby, stating that she was mistaken during her original police report made one-year after the alleged assault.
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Constand’s Original Police Report
Constand told police in 2005 that following her assault, she left as soon as she woke up and went home to change and went directly to work.
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2017 Testimony
Constand testified that following the alleged assault, she had breakfast at Cosby’s home prior to leaving because she didn’t want to seem rude.
