By Aaron Miller-
Alleged victims of Bill Cosby’s sexual misconduct have confronted him in court in dramatic scenes on Tuesday.
Janice Baker-Kinney who returns to the witness stand on today was persuasive in her declaration to have been raped by Cosby. After a two hour testimony in court, she left observers feeling that Cosby has the odds against him as far as jurors are likely to feel.
One woman testifying on Wednesday was adamant in her allegation, directly calling Cosby a “serial rapist,” Another choked back tears as she directly asked the former comedian, “You remember, don’t you, Mr. Cosby?”
Cosby’s lawyers who lost two attempts to launch a mistrial, felt the heat intensely as prosecutors systematically branded Cosby a serial predator.
Baker Kinney fought back attempts by Cosby’s lawyers to discredit her credibility, as she admitted experimenting with LSD and other drugs in her youth. She also admitted having a long bout with alcoholism, but denied using drugs during the period she alleges Cosby assaulted her. The only drugs she claims to have used were the pills Cosby allegedly gave her.
“It still takes me everything within my being to say the words, ‘I was raped’,’ Baker-Kinney passionately testified.
Bill Cosby’s accusers spoke convincingly of being starstruck young women when they entered Cosby’s world seeking career help or, in Baker-Kinney’s case, simply looking for a fun time.
All of his accusers testified of being unconscious as a result of pills or alcohol Cosby gave them. Their claimed to have lost their ability to say no or resist as he had his way with them. Baker-Kinney was a 24-year-old Reno, Nevada, casino bartender when she says Cosby gave her pills she suspected to be Quaaludes and had sex with her in 1982.
Chelan Lasha, sobbed uncontrollably as she testified, told jurors that she got to know Cosby through a family connection as a 17-year-old aspiring model and actress in 1986.
Lasha said Cosby gave her a little blue pill he described as an antihistamine to help her get over a cold, along with two shots of amaretto “to help break up the cough”.
According to her, the combination immobilised her and rendered her unable to speak. Cosby then assaulted her, touching her breast and rubbing himself against her leg,
When asked what was going through her mind, Lasha testified: “Dr. Huxtable(Cosby’s television name in The Cosby Show) wouldn’t do this. Why are you doing this to me? You’re supposed to help me be successful.”
Bill Cosbyturned away and put on a foolish smile which was only slight.
Cosby’s first trial last year ended in a hung jury, but it is now hoped the jury can finally decide his fate unanimously.
