Bill Cosby Blind: Cannot Identify Accusers, Will Trial Go Ahead?


Is Bill Cosby blind?

His lawyers are planning to file a motion in a Pennsylvania court that the 79-year-old is visually impaired and would not be able to defend himself at his criminal trial, CNN is reporting.

The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind confirmed that Bill Cosby is indeed blind with a vision of 20/200 or less in the better eye. A copy of the report will be made available at his next hearing, penciled for Tuesday.

Cosby is being charged on triple counts of felony aggravated indecent assault connected to a 2004 case involving Andrea Constand, an employee of Temple University.

[Image by Matt Rourke/AP Images]

According to the woman, she followed The Cosby Show actor to his house for a career consultation session where he gave her wine and a cocktail of drugs that left her disoriented and helpless to prevent the sex that ensued. His lawyers have argued that Bill Cosby being blind makes it hard for him to identify his accusers and prevent evidence in his defense.

“Without his eyesight, Mr. Cosby cannot even determine whether he has ever seen some of his accusers, let alone develop defense and gather exculpatory evidence.”

The Constand case marks the first time that the 79-year-old is being arraigned on criminal charges. Even though 50 women have come forward, to accuse the disgraced comedian of sexual misconduct that has spanned over 40 years. However, with his lawyers now deeming Bill Cosby legally blind and representatives escorting him into court by hand, it might prove to be a herculean task for other accusers to follow suit.

The defense is asking for the case to be struck out of court.

Prosecutors are yet to respond to the motion that because Bill Cosby is blind, his case should be dismissed. However, a source has said there is no likelihood of that happening as Cosby has always shown a pattern of using his “fame and fortune” as a smokescreen to conceal his crime and “hide his true nature.”

Cosby’s lawyers Brian McMonagle and Angela Agrusa in a written brief countered the claim, revealing it would be difficult for the trial to forge ahead.

“No 79-year old blind man could possibly defend himself against a claim that he sexually assaulted someone he supposedly met once, half a century ago—-and the commonwealth knows it.”

[Image by Jacquelyn Martin/AP Images]
[Image by Jacquelyn Martin/AP Images]

Not many people saw this coming.

The question that is now on everyone’s lips is “Is Bill Cosby blind?” and how did he lose his eyesight.

According to Page Six, the disgraced “America’s Dad” suffers from an eye condition known as keratoconus. The eye condition affects the cornea which causes the eye to start bulging out. Before Bill Cosby went blind, he experienced vision problems like glaring, ghosting, seeing multiple images, and starbursts.

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According to the Daily Mail, even if Cosby is eventually left off the hook, his alleged victims can take respite in the fact that Bill Cosby is completely blind and in his own “personal hell” because he has been abandoned by friends.

“He is confined to his house in Pennsylvania, and the only person on his side is his wife, Camille, who is masterminding his defense. His only friends are the small army of lawyers on his payroll.”

Before Bill Cosby went totally blind he appeared in public and was seen in sunglasses. He did not want to make any fuss about it, but was actively searching for a cure and believes his best chance could be a healthy cornea transplant

[Image by Matt Scholum/AP Images]
[Image by Matt Scholum/AP Images]

According to the National Keratoconus Foundation, Keratoconus affects one in every 2000 people. Most of them are old people, but a good number are also on the younger side. Despite Bill Cosby’s blindness, prosecutors are hoping he will finally go to trial June 5, 2017.

[Featured Image by Matt Rourke/AP Images]

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