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NORRISTOWN — Bill Cosby will not testify on his own behalf in the criminal case against him, and his team of lawyers called only one witness in his defense: A detective.
Judge Steven T. O’Neill said today during the first day of the second week of court proceedings in Montgomery County that Cosby’s defense team advised it would only call one witness, being Det. Richard Schaffer of the Cheltenham Police Department. Defense attorneys also moved to admit a second witness, but O’Neill ruled the witness’ testimony would have been based on hearsay.
McMonagle questioned Schaffer for about five minutes about seemingly minor items in his previous testimony before resting their case. Closing arguments will take place next.
Though rumors circulated late last week that Cosby was considering testifying in his own defense, he said today after being placed under oath that he will not take the witness stand. His attorneys also will not call any character witnesses.
O’Neill said to Cosby that his attorney Brian McMonagle “did discuss that you would have an opportunity to call character witnesses, and there has been a decision based upon strategy and advice of counsel that you are not going to call any character witnesses,” to which Cosby responded “correct.”
For the first time since the start of his criminal trial, Cosby’s wife of 53 years Camille escorted him into the courthouse. Moments after the judge entered the courtroom, Camille walked in arm-in-arm with Cosby’s spokesman Andrew Wyatt. She sat in the front row behind her husband and his defense team. She’s not expected to be called as a witness in this criminal trial, but has been deposed before in relation to her husband’s alleged conduct.
Last week, prosecutors called 12 witnesses and accuser Andrea Constand testified for more than seven hours about a January 2004 night when Cosby allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her. The comedian has pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated indecent assault.
Contsand testified that on the night in question, she went to Cosby’s Cheltenham home and he offered her what she thought were herbal supplements. After she took the three small, blue pills, Constand testified, she started to feel woozy. She testified that when she came to, Cosby was sexually assaulting her and she was unable to stop him.
While dozens of women have accused Cosby of sexual violence, Constand’s case is the only one that has resulted in criminal charges. Many of the accusations against Cosby were made after the statute of limitations had expired.
