A date has been set for Bill Cosby’s trial. The judge presiding over the Temple alumnus’ criminal sexual assault case says the former comedian’s trial will start no later than June 5, 2017 and that there is enough evidence against Cosby to proceed.
Cosby faces three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault from a case involving Andrea Constand. She alleges that Cosby drugged and molested her in his home in 2004. Constand, a former
Temple Employee, says she visited Cosby to ask for career advice after meeting him while he was on the Temple Board of Trustees.
After giving her three blue pills, Constand says the comedian touched her inapproprately. Cosby maintains this episode was consensual and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
If he is convicted, he could serve 10 years in prison, which is the maximum in Pennsylvania.
At least 50 other women have come forward since Cosby’s December 2015 arrest, claiming the actor sexually assaulted them. Prosecutors want 13 of those women to testify to show a pattern of behavior. The 13 women were chosen because they, like Constand, allege Cosby used drugs or alcohol to sedate them to have nonconsensual sex.
Judge O’Neil has reserved judgment on whether or not they will be allowed to testify.
He has also reserved judgment on another request.
Prosecutors want to use a phone call between Cosby and and Constand’s mother, Gianna Constand, as evidence in the case. Cosby’s defense argues he did not know the phone call was being recorded. The recording was played for Judge O’Neil during the pretrial hearing today. Gianna Constand was heard lying to Cosby about recording the conversation as they discussed what drug Cosby gave her daughter on the night she says she was sexually assaulted.
Under Pennsylvania’s two-party wiretap law, both parties must agree for a phone call to be recorded legally. Constand’s legal team says her mother was in Canada when the call was made. Canada allows one-party recordings. Judge O’Neil has yet to make a decision on whether the phone call can be used in court.
Stay with Temple Update for more updates on Cosby’s ongoing sexual assault case.
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