Cosby lawyers say comedian is too blind to defend himself
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Bill Cosby’s eyesight has deteriorated to the point where he cannot identify his accusers in photographs or otherwise help with his defence, his lawyers said Wednesday as they waged a multipronged effort to get the sexual assault case against the 79-year-old comedian thrown out.
His attorneys also portrayed Cosby as a political pawn who is being prosecuted only because a suburban Philadelphia district attorney used the public furor over the comic to get elected last year.
And they renewed their argument that Cosby’s lurid 2005 deposition from a related lawsuit should not be admitted at his trial, saying he answered questions under oath only after being assured he would not be charged with a crime.
Cosby leaned back in his chair as his lawyers made their case at the two-day pretrial hearing, which ended with no rulings from the judge and no indication of when he might issue one. Another set of hearings is scheduled for next month.