The former prosecutor, Bruce Castor, has said he agreed not to press charges in exchange for Cosby’s testimony in a civil lawsuit filed by Constand.
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A Pennsylvania court found enough evidence to force Bill Cosby to stand trial for a 2004 sexual assault charge after portions of a decade-old deposition were released.
Cosby’s defense attorney slammed the decision to move forward with a trial.
In the statement, Pressley reiterated 78-year-old Cosby’s insistence that he is not guilty of any crime and that they both “have no doubt this case ultimately will be resolved in Mr. Cosby’s favor”. Prosecutors said he took advantage of his counseling role, gave her pills and assaulted her at his home outside Philadelphia in early 2004.
Prosecutors also referred to a recently-unsealed deposition Cosby had previously given as part of Constand’s civil suit a decade ago, in which he admitted to obtaining sedatives to give to women he wanted to sleep with.
“We’re not at trial”, warned McHugh at one point to Cosby’s team.
Cosby is also now facing several civil defamation suits brought against him by other victims who accused him of sexual assault and rape in the past, claiming Cosby has publicly branded them as liars.
Cosby told her the pills would help her relax and “take the edge off”. Defense attorney Brian McMonagle pointed to the complainant’s absence throughout the hearing. “I started to panic”, she said.
But, according to the statement, Cosby said he had other romantic encounters with Constand prior to the night of the alleged assault.
Back in December, Bill Cosby was charged with three counts of felony indecent assault and may face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
McMonagle harped on inconsistencies in Constand’s story, and argued that previous meetings with Cosby where he touched her body, and one where they lay on a bed together at Foxwoods Casino, indicated their relationship was consensuall.
Cosby hasn’t yet had to face trial in criminal court, as numerous alleged offences occurred outside statute of limitation laws.
Constand told detectives Cosby helped her to the couch and that’s where he sexually assaulted her, putting his hands up her shirt and in her trousers and placing her hand on his genitals. (Cosby has denied all allegations against him.) A preliminary hearing on the case was held on Tuesday – and the latest developments in Cosby’s sexual assault trial are bad news for the TV star.
In Cosby’s original police statement, which was also read in the hearing, he said Constand never said “no” as he put his hands down her trousers. They has 12 years to bring an accuser to confront Mr. Cosby and they chose not to.
“When someone who has all the power like Bill Cosby does, is told “no you will follow the process” I think it does give people hope”, said advocacy coordinator, Susan Brady.
Cosby has contended that the sexual encounter was consensual.
Allred called the judge’s ruling “fair” and said she was looking forward to the trial.
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In his own 2005 statement to police, excerpts of which were also read in court, Cosby said Constand never said “no” as he put his hand down her trousers.
