Wife: Cosby convicted by 'mob justice, not real justice'

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

Bill Cosby's wife yesterday called for a criminal investigation into the suburban Philadelphia prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction, saying the case that could put the 80-year-old comedian in prison for the rest of his life was "mob justice, not real justice" and a "tragedy".

Camille Cosby made her first comments on the verdict in a three-page statement sent to the media through a family spokesman as institutions from Hollywood to Madison Avenue continued to wipe away the remnants of his legacy. He was expelled yesterday from the motion picture academy and the Advertising Hall of Fame.

Camille Cosby compared her husband of 54 years, convicted a week ago on three counts of aggravated indecent assault, to Emmett Till and other blacks mistreated by the justice system.

"Once again, an innocent person has been found guilty based on an unthinking, unquestioning, unconstitutional frenzy propagated by the media and allowed to play out in a supposed court of law," she said. "This is mob justice, not real justice. This tragedy must be undone not just for Bill Cosby, but for the country."

Camille Cosby, 74, said chief accuser Andrea Constand was a liar whose testimony about being drugged and molested at Cosby's home in January 2004 was "riddled with innumerable, dishonest contradictions".

She echoed Cosby's lawyers, who contended that Constand framed him to score a big payday.

Cosby is on house arrest while awaiting sentencing. His lawyers have vowed to appeal.

Her statement did not address behaviour Cosby has admitted to, such as philandering and contention that he was having a consensual affair with Constand.

Constand's lawyer bristled at the statement and asked, "why would any reputable outlet publish that?"

"Twelve honourable jurors - peers of Cosby - have spoken," lawyer Dolores Troiani said. "There is nothing else that needs to be said."

Constand said in a tweet last week that "Truth prevails". The jury said in a statement Monday that she was "credible and compelling".