Judge Denies New Trial For Bill Cosby, His Wife Camille Cosby Calls Bias

A judge has rejected Bill Cosby’s request for a new trial and the comedian’s wife, Camille, is again accusing the judge of bias against her husband. The ruling was by the same judge that presided over Cosby’s initial trial. The denial has led the entertainer’s lawyers to file an appeal with the state Superior Court, which would be the next step in trying to reverse his felony sexual assault conviction.

According to Billboard, the defense wants the legally blind, 81-year-old released on bail while his attorneys appeal over alleged trial errors. Cosby is currently serving a 3-10 year state prison term in a single cell near the infirmary at the State Correctional Institution-Phoenix in Philly. He has sole access to a day room, where he can watch tv and eat meals and he also has inmates assigned to help him with daily living tasks as part of their prison jobs because he is deemed a “high profile inmate.”

Camille Cosby continues to support Bill and is assured that Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill is biased against her husband. She has repeatedly spoken up regarding Judge O’Neil saying he should have stepped down from the case because his wife is an advocate for sexual assault victims. However, O’Neill said what his wife does has no bearing on his legal rulings.

In addition to Camille’s allegations, the defense team has also accused O’Neil of ruling based off an ongoing feud between himself and former District Attorney and key witness, Bruce Castor. Castor passed on arresting Cosby after the initial allegation in 2005 and even promised Cosby he would not get sentenced. Once the sentencing actually came down, O’Neil said that any verbal promise Castor made wasn’t legally binding. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

In his appeal, Cosby’s current lawyers stated, “Mr. Cosby had a right to have his petition reviewed and decided by a judge who could make a decision free of bias, or even the perception of bias, where the ability to prosecute hinged on the testimony of the 2005 district attorney.” The defense also challenged O’Neill’s decision to let five other accusers testify, let the jury hear portions of Cosby’s deposition and declare Cosby a sexually violent predator who remained a threat to the community.