MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD (CelebrityAccess) — A judge in Montgomery County ruled on Tuesday that Bill Cosby's trial on sexual assault charges would move forward, the New York Times reported. Judge Elizabeth A. McHugh's ruling ended months of efforts by Cosby's lawyers to see the charges dismissed.
According to the Times, the decision, after a 3½-hour hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse, will see Cosby stand trial over allegations that he drugged and sexually assaulted Andrea Constand, a former Temple University staff member who Mr. Cosby had become a friend and mentor to. Prosecutors have alleged that he used that role to provide her with sedatives and assaulted her at his Philadelphia home in 2004.
Cosby waived a formal arraignment, which effectively enters a not guilty plea. The case will now proceed to the scheduling of a trial date, with the next major point of contention likely coming as Cosby's lawyers seek to bar the deposition from Cosby's 2005 civil lawsuit, which included a confidentiality as part of the settlement.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, Cosby is also facing a number of civil lawsuits with alleged victims of abuse suing Cosby for defamation after he called them liars when they came forward to claim he had assaulted them in the past. – Staff Writers
