Bill Cosby Trial Begins Monday In Montgomery County: 5 Things To Know

NORRISTOWN, PA — Media outlets from across the country descended on Norristown Monday morning for the start of the Bill Cosby trial, an event that has been in the making for years.

History

For decades, various women have leveled various sexual assault complaints against the Philadelphia native and comedian, but the case brought forth by alleged victim Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, is the first to make it this far along in the judicial process. Never before has Cosby faced one of his accusers in criminal court.

Cosby allegedly paid Constand and her family a large amount of money in the wake of the incident, with Cosby assuming no criminal charges would be filed. Police investigated and in 2005 case was eventually referred to Montgomery County's District Attorney at the time, Bruce Castor. Castor decided there was not enough evidence available to prosecute.

The case was dormant for a decade until new evidence became available, and whether or not to prosecute Cosby became the focal point of a contentious 2015 district attorney's race between Castor and the eventual winner and current DA, Kevin Steele.

Jury

The trial will be held in Montgomery County Court before Judge Steven T. O'Neill, who has been hearing pre-trial arguments and motions in the Cosby case since the beginning. The jury has been chosen from a pool in Allegheny County after the defense team argued that having the trial in the Philadelphia area would lead to prejudicial treatment of Cosby, because of how big the story has been in local media. The jury is comprised of six white men, four white women, one black man, and one black woman.

Race and the defense

During an interview released just weeks ago, as jury selection for the trial was about to begin, Cosby offered up his first interview in more than two years. In the interview, Cosby and Cosby's daughter both allege that race has played a role in Cosby's treatment by the court up to this point.

"Like the cruel history of our people, the legal system and the protections of the law do not seem to exist for him (Cosby) today," his daughter, Erinn, said.

It remains to be determined whether or not Cosby's legal team follows this train of thought, or what type of defense they will mount. To this point, much of the defense's efforts have resulted in slowing down the process. Several motions have been filed by defense over the past year and a half to have the trial thrown out for a variety of reasons, most of them having to do with the proceedings, and not with Cosby's actual guilt or innocence.

Witnesses

Although Cosby himself will not take the stand, Constand will. Cosby first met Andrea Constand sometime after December 2001. Constand was the Director of Operations of Temple University’s women’s basketball team, which is Cosby’s alma mater.In police reports later made public, authorities traced a detailed and seemingly damning timeline of Cosby's alleged assault of Constand.

According to NBC, other witnesses will include another alleged victim of Cosby's, an individual who the defense believes can contradict that alleged victim's story, a psychologist who will discuss the behavior of victims of sexual abuse, and pharmaceutical experts who can discuss the the effects of Quaaludes, the drug Cosby allegedly gave Constand.

Practicalities

Cameras aren't allowed in Pennsylvania courtrooms, so the Cosby trial will not be a reenactment of the OJ Simpson trial, another high profile celebrity trial, much of which was filmed live in Los Angeles.

Similar to the Simpson trial, the jury will be sequestered so that they will not be unduly influenced by rumors or media coverage, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Watch: Cosby Walks To Courthouse As Trial Begins

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office