Woman tells jury that Bill Cosby forced her to perform sex act in the 1970s
June 8, 2022, 7:56 am

Woman tells jury that Bill Cosby forced her to perform sex act in the 1970s

FILE PHOTO: Plaintiff Judy Huth arrives for opening statements in the civil suit against Bill Cosby at Santa Monica courthouse, California, U.S., June 1, 2022. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

The Channel News Asia reported, citing Reuters, a woman who has filed a civil lawsuit against Bill Cosby took the witness stand in California on Tuesday (June 7), telling jurors the comedian forced her to perform a sex act at the Playboy Mansion when she was a teenager in the 1970s.

Judy Huth, who is seeking unspecified damages, said she had gone to the famous locale in Los Angeles at Cosby's invitation after she and a friend met him days earlier at a public park where he was filming a movie.

After playing pool with Cosby in a game room, Huth said she emerged from a bathroom and saw the comedian sitting on a bed. He patted the mattress next to him and she took a seat by his side, she said under questioning by her attorney.

Breaking into tears, Huth said Cosby tried to put his hands down her pants. She said that when she told the actor she was menstruating, he stood up and pulled down his pants.

Cosby, 84, is not expected to attend the trial. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Huth, now 64, said he then placed her hand on his penis and masturbated "with my hand." She said Cosby acted "forcefully."

"It was not what I wanted at all," she said, adding "I was freaking out."

Under a tense cross-examination, Cosby attorney Jennifer Bonjean challenged Huth's account.

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When the lawsuit was filed in December 2014, Huth said the incident occurred in 1974, when she was 15. She testified on Tuesday that she concluded last month that she had been mistaken about the year and now believes it happened in 1975.

Bonjean said to Huth: "That's because you were lying about the date in your deposition."

Bonjean said Huth's friend, Donna Sameulson, also had initially pinpointed 1974 as the year of the mansion visit before changing her timeline to 1975. In addition, they both mistakenly recalled a Donkey Kong arcade game being in the mansion, though the game was not yet on the market.

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Bonjean suggested Huth and Samuelson talked to make sure their stories matched. Huth denied that and asked Bonjean why she would do that.

"Because it's hard to keep the lies straight?" Bonjean asked. "I don't lie," Huth shot back.

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The civil trial in California, one of the last legal cases against Cosby, is taking place 11 months after Cosby was freed from prison when Pennsylvania's highest court threw out his sexual assault conviction in a different case.

In opening statements, Bonjean said the alleged assault was a "fabrication," though Cosby did not dispute that he invited Huth and her friend to the mansion.

Cosby, 84, is not expected to attend the trial.

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Huth said the encounter with Cosby left her "depressed" and she started using marijuana. "I isolated myself, started getting high. I just wasn't the same person," she said.

Cosby is best known for his role as the lovable husband and father in the 1980s television comedy series "The Cosby Show," earning him the nickname "America's Dad."

But his family-friendly reputation was shattered after more than 50 women accused him of sexual assaults over nearly five decades.

Source: cna

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.