Cosby’s own words led to his conviction, juror says

One of the jurors who found Bill Cosby guilty of sexual assault during a retrial said the US comedian’s own words sealed his fate.

Harrison Snyder said in an interview on ABC’s Good Morning America that it “wasn’t an open and shut case”, and the decision of the jury was only influenced by what happened in court.

The 22-year-old says Cosby’s deposition — in which he admitted giving women drugs to have sex with them — was the evidence that made him believe the man known as “America’s Dad” for his long-running sitcom, was guilty.

The deposition was part of a civil case brought by accuser Andrea Constand.

Mr Snyder said that he had no doubt the jury made the right decision in convicting Cosby last Thursday of three counts of aggravated indecent assault.

Cosby, 80, is now on bail in his Philadelphia home but faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars as he awaits sentencing within the next three months.

He has maintained his innocence, with his publicist declaring his conviction a “public lynching,” and his lawyers have vowed to appeal.

NBC’s Today show reported that the Cosby jury had issued a statement saying its decision was not influenced in any way by factors other than what was seen and heard in the courtroom. They said race and the #MeToo movement were never discussed.

“After thoughtful and meticulous consideration of the information and evidence provided to us, we came to our unanimous verdict,” the jury said in the statement. ”

“Not once were race or the #MeToo movement ever discussed, nor did either factor into our decision, as implied in various media outlets.”

Mr Snyder said he didn’t know much about the 80-year-old comedian before the trial and knew nothing of the allegations.

“I really didn’t know a lot (about Cosby). I knew he was an actor, I knew he did the Cosby Show. I never watched the Cosby Show. I’m a little too young for that,” he added.