Bill Cosby has broken his silence after returning home following his sexual assault conviction being overturned.
The actor, who served more than two years of a three-to-10-year sentence took to post a statement on Twitter moments after arriving home.
He had vowed to serve his full sentence rather than acknowledge any remorse over the 2004 encounter with accuser Andrea Constand.
The star told fans: “I never changed my stance nor my story.
“I have always maintained my innocence.
“Thank you to all my fans, supporters, and friends who stood by me through this ordeal.
“Special thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law.”
(Image: Gilbert Carrasquillo / SplashNews.com)
The star shared a photo of himself holding his fist in the air with the statement.
Cosby was released from State Correctional Institution at around 7pm GMT (3pm EST), just two hours after the decision by the Supreme court was made.
He reportedly said “wow” and “unbelievable” when he heard the news that he would be going home, his attorney said.
(Image: Ouzounova/Splash / SplashNews.com)
When the comedian returned home in Elkins Park, PA, he grinned and flashed a peace sign to the cameras but dodged questions from journalists.
The 83-year-old was convicted of drugging and molesting the Temple University employee at his estate.
He was charged in late 2015 when a prosecutor unveiled new evidence and arrested him days before the 12-year statute of limitations was due to expire.
(Image: Gilbert Carrasquillo / SplashNews.com)
The court said the District Attorney Kevin Steele was obligated to stand by his predecessor’s vow not to charge the actor when he later gave potentially incriminating testimony during Constand’s civil suit. Bt Steele, who made the decision to arrest the star, brought in the damaging deposition from the lawsuit.
Justice David Wecht said the comic had relied on the former prosecutor’s promise not to charge him.
(Image: Twitter)
They said that overturning the conviction, and barring any further prosecution, “is the only remedy that comports with society’s reasonable expectations of its elected prosecutors and our criminal justice system.”
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said allowing five accusers to testify at the retrial – instead of the initial one accuser previously permitted – tainted the trial.
A lower court previously found it appropriate to show a signature pattern of drugging and molesting women when accusers came forward to talk about their experiences with Cosby in the 1980s.
(Image: SplashNews.com)
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Prosecutors have not yet said if they seek to try Cosby for a third time or for an appeal.
During his time in jail, the star refused to participate in sex offender programmes.
He said he would resist them and acknowledge any wrongdoing, even if it means serving the full 10-year sentence.
Cosby had worked in the entertainment industry for 50 years and is estimated to be worth around $400million.
His comedy TV shows, books, and standup acts shot him into the limelight.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
