Bill Cosby Granted Appeal Due To Specific Issues Surrounding Testimony In Previous Trial

Bill Cosby has been behind bars since 2018 after being convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a Temple University employee, in his home. After being found guilty on three felony sex assault counts, he was sentenced to three to 10 years behind bars for his crimes. However, his time in prison may be cut short as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has now granted the former "Cosby Show" actor the opportunity to appeal his conviction.

According to CBS Philly, the state Supreme Court's new ruling will allow two specific issues from Cosby's trial to be reexamined. As the case progresses, they will now take a second look at whether or not the jury should have heard his own testimony about using quaaludes "as it stemmed from a separate civil case where Cosby’s lawyers have argued their client was promised criminal immunity."

Additionally, they will also determine whether or not it was appropriate to hear the testimony of five other accusers when his 2018 trial was solely about Constand's allegations.

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As stated by The Hill, the 82-year-old's initial charges "came after dozens of women said he drugged and sexually assaulted them in the past, but Constand was the only woman whose case was still within the statute of limitations."

Under the previous assumed immunity, NBC News reports that defense lawyers stated Cosby had allowed himself to be questioned about the matter in depositions in 2005 and 2006. He would eventually settle his case for $3.4M after admitting that he had given drugs to various women before having sex. The comedian's legal team has also argued that a Montgomery County district attorney had previously promised not to prosecute Cosby for his contacts with Constand as well.

Kevin Steele, a county district attorney, has since countered that narrative and stated that there is no evidence that an immunity agreement existed or played a role in his prosecution. The high court will now consider whether Cosby "reasonably relied upon those oral and written statements by providing deposition testimony in the civil action, thus forfeiting his constitutional right against self-incrimination," according to NBC News.

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Since the decision, Constand has asked the court "to consider the enormous prospect of putting my perpetrator back into the community after being labelled a convicted sexually violent predator who has shown no remorse for his actions." Cosby's team also released a statement, saying that his "false conviction" was "so much bigger than him." They then thanked the attorneys in the case for their "tenacious efforts in fighting for the vindication of Mr. Cosby."

At this time, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has indicated that they are confident the previous decisions dismissing the appeals will be upheld.