People are not always what they seem. Bill Cosby is far from the kind of person we all originally viewed him as. In the past week, he finally went to trial for the sexual assault case against him from last December.
Andrea Constand, one of close to 60 women, have all made similar claims accusing Cosby of drugging and assaulting them. Cosby's legal team has named a large number of these as denials. Cosby said one the stand at one point admitting that he used Quaaludes on women when he wanted to have sex with them.
Constand told the stand the night of the incident in 2004, Cosby had given her "herbal" pills that made her legs feeling like jelly. He claims these pills were Benadryl. “I was unable to speak. I was like paralyzed,” she said. Yet Cosby continued to lay her on the couch and penetrate her with his fingers. It took her a year after the incident to come forward with the charges against him.
For most of these cases, it is passed the statute of limitation. Because of this, many the stories from many women may not be heard so justice relies on Andrea Constand. Constand will have to face Cosby's highly paid and respected lawyers. She will face the strategic questions they will ask to make her doubt herself and the situation.
Constand has always had the same story, but the public has a constant change in opinion. What does this mean for future cases? Will this give people on college campuses a way of getting around drugging and assaulting women? Will this make it ok for someone to have sex with someone even if they're under the influence? Cosby told a jury he at one point drugged women. Who in their right mind would think this is ok?
Cases like this are the reason victims, men and women, are afraid to come forward when put in a situation like Andrea Constand and the other 60 women who have made similar claims. Humiliation is a common feeling among sexual assault victims. Another fear is that people will not believe them. If this case is not evaluated properly the fear of being called a liar will be instilled in every victims head even more than it already is.
