Bill Cosby to be released from prison today as judge overturns sexual assault conviction

Bill Cosby is set to be released from prison on Wednesday 30 June after his sexual assault conviction was overturned by The Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The 83 year old comedian, who was once beloved as 'America's Dad', has served two years of his three-to-ten year prison sentence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Cosby was convicted in 2018 of drugging and molesting Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban estate in 2004.

A high court overturned the conviction after finding an agreement with a previous prosecutor prevented him from being charged in the case.


The 79-page finding reads: "Cosby's convictions and judgment of sentence are vacated, and he is discharged."

The comedian was charged in 2015 when a prosecutor armed with new evidence arrested him days before the 12-year statute of limitations expired.

During his first trial, one other accuser was allowed to testify by the judge, when the jury deadlocked on a decision. But, the judge later allowed five other accusers to testify at the retrial about the experiences with Cosby in the 1980s.

It was also ruled by Pennsylvania Supreme Court that the testimonies in fact tainted the trial, despite lower appeals finding the evidence appropriate to show a signature pattern of drugging and molesting women.


Cosby was one of the first celebrities tried and convicted following the #MeToo movement.

Prosecutors have not immediately said if they would appeal or seek to convict Crosby for a third time.

Former basketball player Andrea was one of dozens of women who publicly accused him of sexual assault.

A victim impact statement read at Cosby's sentencing in 2018 read: "After the assault, I wasn’t sure what had actually happened but the pain spoke volumes. The shame was overwhelming. Self-doubt and confusion kept me from turning to my family or friends as I normally did. I felt completely alone, unable to trust anyone, including myself."

In the lengthy statement, Andrea later added: "Instead of looking back, I am looking forward to looking forward. I want to get to the place where the person I was meant to be gets a second chance.

"I know that I still have room to grow."

Cosby joined a number of high profile people who had been convicted following the #MeToo movement, including film producer Harvey Weinstein, who was found guilty of third-degree rape and sentenced to 23 years in prison.

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