Defence cross of Cosby accuser reflects change in strategy
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Bill Cosby’s lawyers have changed the way they talk about his chief accuser and her relationship with him.
At Cosby’s first sexual-assault trial, the defence argued that Andrea Constand, a former Temple University women’s basketball administrator, and the 80-year-old married comedian were lovers having an affair. A mistrial was declared when jurors couldn’t reach a verdict after six days of deliberations.
At the retrial, Cosby’s new lawyer, Tom Mesereau, has called Constand a “con artist” who baited Cosby by feigning romantic interest in him and wound up with a $3.4 million civil settlement after she levelled a false claim of sexual molestation.
Mesereau’s cross-examination of Constand, which ended Monday, reflected this change in strategy.