COSBY ACCUSER
Who is Andrea Constand? Basketball star who accused Bill Cosby of assault and was paid £2.4m
ACTOR Bill Cosby has been convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004.
Canadian basketball star Constand, 30 years his junior, was working at Cosby's former university when they met. Here's everything we know.
3
Who is Andrea Constand?
Andrea Constand was born April 11, 1973, in Toronto, Canada.
The former basketball player Andrea Constand accused Bill Cosby, 80, of drugging and raping her at his Pennsylvania mansion in 2004.
Ms Constand, then 30, was working as director of operations for the women's basketball team at Temple University, Philadelphia.
She met Cosby, who is an alumni of the university, through her role but moved back to Toronto after the alleged attack.
Before moving to the US for the job she had played basketball professionally in Sicily and for the Canadian national women's team.
What did Andrea Constand say in her first interview since Cosby's conviction?
Constand, 45, spoke to NBC News in her first interview since the jury convicted "The Cosby Show" star of three counts of aggravated indecent assault.
She said the pills Cosby gave her made her feel like a "limp noodle", leaving her helpless to fend off his attack.
"My mind is saying, 'Move your hands. Kick. Can you do anything? I don't want this. Why is this person doing this?' Constand said in a preview aired on NBC's "Today" show on Thursday.
She added: "And me not being able to react in any specific way.
3
"So I was limp. I was a limp noodle.
"I was crying out inside, in my throat, in my mind, for this to stop. And I couldn't do anything."
Constand said she felt ashamed and didn't immediately tell anyone about the assault because she thought no one would believe it.
NBC's full interview with Constand is due to air Friday night on the network's "Dateline" show.
What was Bill Cosby accused of?
Ms Constand accused Cosby of incapacitating her with pills before molesting her while she drifted in and out of consciousness.
The comedian claimed the encounter was consensual and has always denied any wrongdoing.
In May 2016, District Judge Elizabeth McHugh ruled there was sufficient evidence to bring Cosby to trial after dozens of women raised similar claims and, in a deposition, Cosby admitted to giving Ms Constand pills.
The first trial began on June 5, 2017, but it ended less than two weeks later with the jury "hopelessly deadlocked".
3
MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS
When was the retrial and when was Bill Cosby found guilty?
The retrial in April 2018 revealed the allegation that Cosby had paid Ms Constand £2.4million in a 2006 civil settlement.
"The question that I'm sure we’re going to hear a lot about is, why would an innocent man pay £2.4million for something he didn't do?" said Dennis McAndrews
But, as the Chicago Sun Times reports, Cosby's lawyers argued that Ms Constand falsely accused him to land a big payoff.
The actor was free before the mistrial announcement on a $1million bail after pleading not guilty.
On April 26, Bill Cosby was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand.
A jury outside Philadelphia convicted The Cosby Show star of three counts of aggravated indecent assault.
His lawyer called Constand a "con artist" who levelled false accusations against Cosby so she could sue him.
Cosby could get up to 10 years in prison on each of the counts.
On April 27, on house arrest at his Philadelphia mansion, ordering him to be outfitted with a GPS ankle bracelet to monitor compliance.
Until sentencing, Judge O'Neill ruled the 80-year-old comedian may leave his house only to meet with his lawyers or go to the doctor, and he must get permission first.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics