Judge Clears Way For Possible Cosby Trial

Bill Cosby

A bid by Bill Cosby’s lawyers to have the sexual assault charges against the entertainer dismissed was rejected by a Pennsylvania judge Wednesday evening, clearing the way for a potential trial.

According to The LA Times, the judge, Steven O’Neill, said that he found “no basis to grant the relief request” by the attorneys. They had mounted a case over the last two days arguing that former Montgomery County Dist. Atty. Bruce Castor had made a non-prosecution agreement with the comedian’s lawyer more than a decade ago.

Cosby has been charged with three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault stemming from a 2004 interaction involving drugs and alcohol with former Temple University basketball staffer Andrea Constand.

The entertainer sat stoically as the judge read the decision, then talked quietly to an aide while lawyers huddled behind him. A preliminary hearing has been set for March 8, at which time another judge will determine if there is enough evidence for the case to move to trial.

O’Neill did not elaborate on how he came to Wednesday’s ruling. But throughout the two days he frequently expressed skepticism about the defense’s claim of an oral agreement that had never been formalized and was known only by Castor and the late Cosby lawyer Walter Phillips.

Data curated by PrettyFamous

Cosby did not speak in court, but his presence was felt. He was helped out of the room after the defeat Wednesday night by several aides, apparently as a result of a vision problem that was cited several times during testimony.

The prospect of a trial for the once beloved comedian will test the historic goodwill for a celebrity with a growing anger about Cosby’s alleged activities with women, more than 50 of whom have stepped forward to say he had initiated unwanted sexual contact with them, often after providing them with drugs or alcohol.