Kevin Steele, the district attorney, said following the hearing that the women had all agreed to appear as witnesses.
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In this August 1, 1987 file photo, Andrea Constand poses for a photo in Toronto.
Constand alleged that Cosby gave her pills and wine during a visit to his home in Cheltenham.
At the pretrial conference, Judge Steven T. O’Neill said he would decide on Steele’s motion at a future hearing and set a trial date for June 5, 2017, the Los Angeles Times reports.. Prosecutors want 13 of those women to testify to show a pattern of behavior.
More than 50 women have come forward with decades-old accusations of inappropriate behaviour, drugging and/or rape against Cosby since late 2014. Constand, who worked for the Temple University basketball team, now lives in Canada. She later said she was in and out of consciousness.
The defense is expected to oppose any testimony from other accusers.
Meanwhile, Cosby’s defense team has been trimmed: Monique Pressley, formerly the public face of Cosby’s various legal battles (he’s also fighting civil lawsuits filed in connection with the accusations against him), removed herself from his team last month, according to court filings.
“The law as it is now in California is a sexual predator’s best friend and a victim’s worst enemy”, said attorney Gloria Allred.
The two sides are still sparring over what evidence will be admitted at trial, including a recording that Constand’s mother made of a phone call with Cosby a year after the alleged assault in which they discussed what drug he had given her daughter.
Thirteen of his accusers may be allowed by the judge to take the stand because the state of Pennsylvania allows witnesses to give evidence of past acts that might display a “common scheme, plan, or design”. “And I’m apologizing because I’m thinking this is a dirty old man with a young girl”.
In that deposition, Cosby described his sexual encounter with Constand in graphic detail, although he portrayed it as consensual. Cosby settled the suit after four days of questioning. Cosby later said it was Benadryl, though Constand’s lawyer doesn’t buy that.
The vast majority of the alleged abuses happened too long ago to prosecute, making the Constand case the only criminal charge brought against Cosby.
Based on detectives’ findings, Ferman ordered Cosby’s arrest on December 30 on three charges of aggravated indecent assault.
Even though Allred isn’t representing the one woman who is pursuing him in court for the allegations, Cosby’s lawyers say her “campaign against Mr. Cosby builds on. prejudice”.
Cosby was in court Tuesday for a pretrial hearing.
As O’Neill pushed for a trial date, lead defense lawyer Brian McMonagle of Philadelphia said he has other trials booked until June.
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Steele said Cosby had already waived his privacy rights because he knew he was being recorded and had only been joking about the parrot. Montgomery County authorities investigated her claims, but then-District Attorney Bruce Castor declined to press charges, citing “insufficient, credible and admissible evidence”.
