His trial’s set to begin June 5th, 2017.
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Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill did not rule today on whether the other accusers could testify or whether prosecutors could use Cosby’s deposition or a phone call recorded by Constand’s mother in 2005. But prosecutors might be allowed to introduce evidence of other acts, even though no charges were brought in those cases, to show a pattern of behavior. She later woke up naked in a hotel room and said she had been sexually assaulted. She later said she was in and out of consciousness.
Cosby’s lawyers are expected to oppose their testimony. The defense team will also be filing a motion for a change of venue, due to Montgomery County district attorney Kevin Steele’s having run an ad calling Cosby a “predator” during his campaign. Then-Montco D.A. Bruce Castor declined to file charges, but Steele filed against Cosby on December 30, 2015. Constand alleges that Cosby drugged and violated her in January 2004 at his mansion in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
But he has since abandoned that strategy in Philadelphia, where he dropped the lawsuit filed against Constand, her lawyers and her mother. Cosby had called her from California.
The recording was played in court and the audio quality was weak, with both prosecutors and the judge saying they could not hear any beeps. Gianna Constand denied it.
Cosby in the conversation described the sex act as “digital penetration” but refused to say what pills he had given her daughter. In his deposition, he later said he feared sounding like “a dirty old man” on the call. Cosby settled the suit after four days of questioning. He also admitted to a string of extramarital affairs and sexual “rendezvous”, some with women in their late teens and early 20s.
Cosby looked noticeably healthier as he walked into court for the pretrial conference. O’Neill offered whatever accommodations he might need at trial, but the defense didn’t immediately ask for any. He clutched an aide’s arm but didn’t have the wooden cane he’s used at past hearings.
Lead defence lawyer Brian McMonagle of Philadelphia says he has other trials scheduled through the northern spring, pushing back the trial date to mid next year.
Cosby has replaced one top-tier Los Angeles law firm with another on his defense team, the second such switch in about a year.
Cosby has so far lost his efforts to have the charges thrown out.
“Yet, over the last fourteen months, Mr. Cosby, and those who have supported him, have been ignored, while lawyers like Gloria Allred hold press conferences to accuse him of crimes for unwitnessed events that allegedly occurred nearly a half century earlier”.
Cosby had countersued some of them.
Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt has meanwhile issued a statement blaming lawyers for the women for “the trampling of Mr. Cosby’s civil rights”. Numerous accusers, including Constand, are white.
Bill Cosby is the victim of discrimination and racial hatred. according to Bill Cosby.
Allred writes that ultimately the Pennsylvania case is about whether or not Cosby is guilty.
‘None of us will ever want to be in the position of attacking a victim.
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At least 50 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault.
