Disgraced comedian Bill Cosby has been sentenced for three to ten years in prison for sexual assault.
“It is time for justice. Mr Cosby, this has all circled back to you. The time has come,” Judge Steven O’Neil said.
Judge O’Neil quoted Cosby’s victim Andrea Constand’s statement in which she says that the comedian had took her “beautiful, young spirit and crushed it.”
The 81-year-old was convicted back in April on three counts of aggravated indecent assault after he drugged and assaulted Ms Constand in 2004 at his home in Philadelphia.
Cosby declined the opportunity to speak in court before he was taken away in handcuffs. It’s said that Cosby had burst out laughing just moments after he was sentenced to prison.
Judge O’Neil labelled the American comedian as a “sexually violent predator” which now means that Cosby must undergo a lifetime of counselling and reporting to authorities. Cosby’s name will now appear on the sex-offenders registry which will be sent around to schools, neighbours and victims.
Cosby’s wife Camille stuck by her husband despite the 60 women accusing him of sexual assault but was not present on the day of his sentencing. Camille released a statement saying “he (Bill) was denied his right to a fair trial.”
The disgraced comedian’s publicist Andrew Wyatt claimed that some of the accusers were “white women who make money off of accusing black men of being sexual predators.”
Former model Janice Dickinson, who is another one of Cosby’s accusers, said, “Here’s the last laugh, pal.”
The third accuser in court Lili Bernard said, “There is solace, absolutely. It is his fame and his fortune and his phoney philanthropy that has allowed him to get away with impunity. Maybe this will send a message to other powerful perpetrators that they will be caught and punished.”
In Ms Constand’s victim impact statement, which was released by the prosecutors, said she described the horror of when she was sexual assaulted and how it has affected her.
“At the time of the assault, I was 30 years old, and a fit, confident athlete,” said Ms Constand.
“Nothing could have prepared me for an evening of January 2004, when life as I knew it came to an abrupt halt.
“The man I had come to know as a mentor and friend drugged and sexually assaulted me. Instead of being able to run, jump and pretty much do anything I wanted physically, during the assault I was paralysed and completely helpless. I could not move my arms or legs. I couldn’t speak or even remain conscious. I was completely vulnerable, and powerless to protect myself.
“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.
“We may never know the full extent of his double life as a sexual predator, but his decades-long reign of terror as a serial rapist is over.”
“I’m grateful to Andrea for standing strong,” Kathrine McKee, who sued Cosby for defamation, told CNN.
“I suffered for 40-plus years. He’s got three to 10 years. He shows no remorse whatsoever. He’s not sorry at all.”
Lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents some of the victims and accusers said, “This is a very important day…We’re glad that judgment day has finally come for Mr Cosby.
“Mr Cosby has shown no remorse.”
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– Written by Samia Sahid
