Bill Cosby conviction vacated, to be freed from prison

[Gourmand 7774]

Holy shit. 60 accusers but he is getting out of prison.

https://apnews.com/article/bill-cosby-courts-arts-and-entertainment-5c073fb64bc5df4d7b99ee7fadddbe5a?utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter

[Guest Lobo]

Well that's gonna set a weird precedent. 

[4th&Five 41599]

Seems like there may be some sort of double standard in our justice system.  

[SHOOTER12 8833]

Speechless I am...

[Judge Roybeanbag 11821]

 

[crash_davis 23115]

[crash_davis 23115]

love it when the prosecution fucks up a slam dunk case.

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Good day for rapists 

[Gourmand 7774]

 

[Gourmand 7774]

 

[Deej 76946]

Hey, hey, hey...

[4th&Five 41599]

I just can't understand why women hesitate to come forward when they're abused.

[Brothahorn 10087]

Pudding pops and roofies for all the ladies!

[crash_davis 23115]

1 minute ago, Gourmand said:

 

for those of us who do not speak law, what the fuck does this mean and can I hate Trump more?

[Guest Lobo]

1 minute ago, Gourmand said:

 

We have 1000 lawyers on here, somebody translate this for us please (I went to a mid-level law school).  Sounds like they're just now realizing the differences between testimony in civil cases versus criminal cases?  Seems like something a room full of D.A.'s and Judges would know ahead of time?  

And this should be fully politicized by 8:00p this evening, I'm guessing.  

[Nicole44 22078]

WTF? <sigh> 

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

Bill Cosby was released because his net worth is approximately $400,000,000

Analysis past that is semantics

[Deej 76946]

[crash_davis 23115]

2 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Bill Cosby was released because his net worth is approximately $400,000,000

Analysis past that is semantics

I usually like you but you are reaching at straws. He was released because seemingly the prosecution fucked up.

[Incredulity 11683]

5 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

for those of us who do not speak law, what the fuck does this mean and can I hate Trump more?

Break a deal, face the wheel.

 

Sure.

[Brothahorn 10087]

Bill Cosby was released because his net worth is approximately $400,000,000
Analysis past that is semantics

For once you are right, comrade.

[Nicole44 22078]

So being released not due to innocence but a mistake(s) on the part of the prosecution is how I read this. Not at all unaware of the celebrity/wealth factor playing a role. Sickening shit. 

[Brothahorn 10087]

I usually like you but you are reaching at straws. He was released because seemingly the prosecution fucked up.

Bill had the money to hire enough lawyers or the right lawyer to keep fighting. Most of us would be proper fucked.

[Celery Man 21003]

i only practiced maritime law for a short time in middle school but I believe... DA didn't prosecute Cosby criminally so that his testimony could be compelled in a civil trial. Said testimony implicated him criminally. later DAs said "nah we're prosecuting him criminally"

anyways, fuck that guy

[Hugo Stiglitz 23367]

2 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

I usually like you but you are reaching at straws. He was released because seemingly the prosecution fucked up.

That’s the cover story and probably true but I don’t see any poor sex offenders getting out on prosecutorial incompetence. 

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2740]

9 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Bill Cosby was released because his net worth is approximately $400,000,000

Analysis past that is semantics

Had no idea Leonard Part 6 was that successful at the box office.  

[Brisketexan 105438]

7 minutes ago, Lobo said:

We have 1000 lawyers on here, somebody translate this for us please (I went to a mid-level law school).  Sounds like they're just now realizing the differences between testimony in civil cases versus criminal cases?  Seems like something a room full of D.A.'s and Judges would know ahead of time?  

And this should be fully politicized by 8:00p this evening, I'm guessing.  

From my quick read, it appears that:

1 -- the DA entered into some sort of non-prosecution agreement so as to deprive Bill of his ability to invoke the 5th if he was subjected to deposition in a civil case (you can't invoke your right against self-incrimination if the state has agreed that you can't be incriminated).

2 -- during the depos, Bill did not invoke the 5th, and testified truthfully that he was super-rapey.

3 -- the prosecutor's office reneged on the original non-prosecution deal and used Bill's depo testimony against him to secure a conviction.

4 -- the court of appeals said "nope, a deal's a deal, and Bill detrimentally relied on that deal, so you can't use that testimony against him."

 

What I don't quite get is why there can't be a re-trial, just not using that testimony?  I'm guessing that they are invoking the full deal of "you said you wouldn't prosecute at all, so you don't get to prosecute at all."

 

But, in the "not so fast" department....as I understand, they have multiple other credible accusers in OTHER jurisdictions who are NOT subject to any such non-prosecution deal.  If I was Bill, I'd keep my lawyer on retainer.

[conVINCEd 21469]

Weren’t there victims in CA as well?  IIIRC they didn’t move forward because he was already going to die in prison.

[Gene Parmesan 4016]

4 minutes ago, Brothahorn said:

7 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

I usually like you but you are reaching at straws. He was released because seemingly the prosecution fucked up.

Bill had the money to hire enough lawyers or the right lawyer to keep fighting. Most of us would be proper fucked.

Lady Justice may be blind, but we all know women be shopping.  

[TornACL 7724]

It's good to be rich!

[shadow_operative 15932]

19 minutes ago, Lobo said:

We have 1000 lawyers on here, somebody translate this for us please (I went to a mid-level law school).  Sounds like they're just now realizing the differences between testimony in civil cases versus criminal cases?  Seems like something a room full of D.A.'s and Judges would know ahead of time?  

And this should be fully politicized by 8:00p this evening, I'm guessing.  

what we have here is a classic case of "fruit of the poisonous tree." i know this because because that lawyer guy said "fruit" in his statement, and i've heard them say that a bunch of times on all of the law & order: svu episodes that i watch, so.

Edited June 30, 2021 by shadow_operative

[shadow_operative 15932]

 

 

[Fuck Tim Beck 3834]

With Cosby back in news maybe SouthPark will have a new "hot Cosby" episode 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13528]

bust a deal, face the wheel.

No sympathy for Cosby but prosecutors should honor a deal, even if its the previous prosector's deal. Otherwise future deals become worthless. They probably had a case even if they didn't use Cosby's civil testimony.

[ABSR 5325]

23 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

for those of us who do not speak law, what the fuck does this mean and can I hate Trump more?

I'm no Trump fan, but reading this the lawyer I would blame is NOT Castor.   Castor made a decision to force Cosby to testify in a civil trial.  This was likely done because Castor knew there was no way a criminal prosecution could be won for a rape/sexual assault case where the victim only came forward a year or more after the incident.  No physical evidence, no evidence but he said/she said.  No way to force Cosby to testify.  So Castor did something that allowed the victim to have a chance in civil court for some justice that would never have happened in criminal court.

[crash_davis 23115]

14 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

From my quick read, it appears that:

1 -- the DA entered into some sort of non-prosecution agreement so as to deprive Bill of his ability to invoke the 5th if he was subjected to deposition in a civil case (you can't invoke your right against self-incrimination if the state has agreed that you can't be incriminated).

2 -- during the depos, Bill did not invoke the 5th, and testified truthfully that he was super-rapey.

3 -- the prosecutor's office reneged on the original non-prosecution deal and used Bill's depo testimony against him to secure a conviction.

4 -- the court of appeals said "nope, a deal's a deal, and Bill detrimentally relied on that deal, so you can't use that testimony against him."

 

What I don't quite get is why there can't be a re-trial, just not using that testimony?  I'm guessing that they are invoking the full deal of "you said you wouldn't prosecute at all, so you don't get to prosecute at all."

 

But, in the "not so fast" department....as I understand, they have multiple other credible accusers in OTHER jurisdictions who are NOT subject to any such non-prosecution deal.  If I was Bill, I'd keep my lawyer on retainer.

thank you. so again, the prosecution fucked up. 

but agreed he will now have plenty of chances to defend himself against the many other women he abused. he may have won this battle, but he's going to lose the war. 

[BabaYaga 15328]

[Brisketexan 105438]

1 minute ago, crash_davis said:

thank you. so again, the prosecution fucked up. 

but agreed he will now have plenty of chances to defend himself against the many other women he abused. he may have won this battle, but he's going to lose the war. 

Whatever, the case, I think we should all break out the jell-o pudding tonight to celebrate/mourn!

[crash_davis 23115]

Just now, BabaYaga said:

what you don't see is the drugged out woman lying down out of frame.

[BabaYaga 15328]

2 minutes ago, crash_davis said:

what you don't see is the drugged out woman lying down out of frame.

Apparently it was well known in the entertainment and comedic circles going back decades.  Like Harvey W.   Comedy's dirty little secret.  

[Nicole44 22078]

[Brisketexan 105438]

5 minutes ago, BabaYaga said:

Apparently it was well known in the entertainment and comedic circles going back decades.  Like Harvey W.   Comedy's dirty little secret.  

This is SO much more common than anyone would like to admit.

A rapey co-worker, a pedophile priest, all of those scenarios -- it's awful how often it's the case that when the dam breaks, it comes out that "oh yeah, everyone knew not to ever go into so-and-so's office alone," that sort of thing.  People being sexual abusers is one of those "open secrets" that culture has long allowed for.

[Pimphand 5926]

5 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

This is SO much more common than anyone would like to admit.

A rapey co-worker, a pedophile priest, all of those scenarios -- it's awful how often it's the case that when the dam breaks, it comes out that "oh yeah, everyone knew not to ever go into so-and-so's office alone," that sort of thing.  People being sexual abusers is one of those "open secrets" that culture has long allowed for.

casting couch

[Eastwood 4394]

32 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

From my quick read, it appears that:

1 -- the DA entered into some sort of non-prosecution agreement so as to deprive Bill of his ability to invoke the 5th if he was subjected to deposition in a civil case (you can't invoke your right against self-incrimination if the state has agreed that you can't be incriminated).

2 -- during the depos, Bill did not invoke the 5th, and testified truthfully that he was super-rapey.

3 -- the prosecutor's office reneged on the original non-prosecution deal and used Bill's depo testimony against him to secure a conviction.

4 -- the court of appeals said "nope, a deal's a deal, and Bill detrimentally relied on that deal, so you can't use that testimony against him."

 

What I don't quite get is why there can't be a re-trial, just not using that testimony?  I'm guessing that they are invoking the full deal of "you said you wouldn't prosecute at all, so you don't get to prosecute at all."

 

But, in the "not so fast" department....as I understand, they have multiple other credible accusers in OTHER jurisdictions who are NOT subject to any such non-prosecution deal.  If I was Bill, I'd keep my lawyer on retainer.

The DA who prosecuted did so with a couple days to spare on the statute of limitations, so it looks like he wanted to charge Cosby but absent the depo testimony, just didn't have what he needed. So, he unseals the depo testimony at the 11th hour and proceeds. Looks like a Hail Mary play that would result in at least a perp walk and SOME jail time for Cosby regardless of the ultimate result.

[Wally Fairway 5589]

7 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

This is SO much more common than anyone would like to admit.

A rapey co-worker, a pedophile priest, all of those scenarios -- it's awful how often it's the case that when the dam breaks, it comes out that "oh yeah, everyone knew not to ever go into so-and-so's office alone," that sort of thing.  People being sexual abusers is one of those "open secrets" that culture has long allowed for.

 

1 minute ago, Pimphand said:

casting couch

on campus recruiting visits
greek life
this one time at band camp
closing deals at the scrip club

['stache 21892]

Can he be tried for a different rape in a different state, or was this the only one that could get around the statute of limitations? This is a shitty result, but it may have been impossible otherwise to prosecute. But it yet again adds to the number or reasons women hesitate to come forward, especially when the perpetrator is rich and famous.

[Newdoc 3453]

Dude’s 83 and by the looks of him, dead within 5 years. His finally getting caught and jail time was barely “better late than never.” In other words, he’s lived his prime a free man. Hopefully some victims were satisfied with his conviction but I don’t see much justice in it.

[conVINCEd 21469]

Looks like he did about 3 years.  Better than nothing.

[crash_davis 23115]

8 minutes ago, 'stache said:

Can he be tried for a different rape in a different state, or was this the only one that could get around the statute of limitations? This is a shitty result, but it may have been impossible otherwise to prosecute. But it yet again adds to the number or reasons women hesitate to come forward, especially when the perpetrator is rich and famous.

double jeopardy only applies to the same crime/victim. hopefully this will open the floodgates for all the other women abused by him.

[Johnny Sack 8397]

If I was him and had his money, I would strongly consider spending the rest of my days in a non-extradition country.

Hate it that he turned out to be such trash.  Used to love his show as a kid.