When you get immunity they can force you to testify. That part of self-incrimination is gone because they gave you immunity from prosecution. You cannot take the 5th because you cannot incriminate yourself anymore. They did that because they told Cosby they had no intention of ever charging him criminally because the evidence didn’t support it so they didn’t mind giving him immunity so he would have to ... HAVE TO ... testify in the civil cases. Then they said ‘surprise! You’re not immune after all! Thanks for all that testimony!’
1. Why would a prosecutor give someone immunity to testify in a civil trial? I personally have never heard of that.
2. I assume Cosby would be represented by a competent attorney. Why wouldn't his attorney require the prosecutor provide a written and well-documented agreement to the immunity?
3. You say a witness can be forced to testify if they are given immunity. But criminal prosecution in one jurisdiction is not the only risk. He's already involved in a civil suit. Couldn't his statement they were trying to compel be used against him in different civil suits? How about criminal prosecutions in other jurisdictions, including federal? I am not an attorney, but it seems to me that this testimony would be worth fighting.
I was doing some more reading on the case. It seems like they are saying he was never granted immunity. Why did his lawyer let him testify?