Cosby: I want trial for murder of my son to be fair

BILL COSBY has broken his silence over the trial of his son's alleged killer, appealing for "dignity" and "fairness for the suspect". America's most beloved entertainer, speaking as jury selection began yesterday, asked that the real focus of the trial, expected to last four to six weeks, not be lost.

"This trial isn't about Bill Cosby's son," he said.

"Bill Cosby has a loss but Ennis is the person who lost. Ennis suffered. He lost his life. He is the victim." Cosby opened up during rehearsals for a jazz festival he will host at the Hollywood Bowl, a few miles from the Santa Monica courthouse where the accused, Mikail Markhasev, sat. Prosecutors claim the 19-year-old Ukrainian immigrant was trying to rob 27-year-old Ennis Cosby and shot him as the comedian's son changed a flat tyre on a deserted road. "There are certain things that the media will do and you can't get away from it," Cosby added. "I'm just saying the family would like dignity ... I want a fair trial." He and his family are not expected to attend. Judge David Perez has already banned television cameras from the courtroom and imposed a gag on lawyers to avoid an OJ Simpson-like circus. Prosecutors revealed that they will attempt to link Markhasev, who came to the US nine years ago, to an infamous Mexican mafia gang. Deputy District Attorney Anne Ingalls revealed the strategy as she fought in vain to have the identity of jurors kept secret for fear of retaliation. in Los Angeles

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