Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Attorneys for Cosby seek dismissal of Pennsylvania sexual assault case

June 8, 2016 | By Reuters
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby arrives at the Montgomery County Courthouse for a pre-trial hearing on sexual assault charges in Norristown, Pennsylvania

(Reuters) – Attorneys for Bill Cosby asked a Pennsylvania judge on Wednesday to throw out sexual assault charges filed against the comedian, saying he had not been given an opportunity to confront his accuser during pretrial proceedings.

The petition filed in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania seeks dismissal of all charges or at least a new preliminary hearing during which Cosby’s lawyers could cross-examine his accuser.

Advertisement

The charges stem from allegations leveled by Andrea Constand, who settled a civil case against Cosby for an undisclosed sum in 2006.

Cosby, 78, was charged last year with sexually assaulting Constand in January 2004 after plying her with drugs and alcohol.

“The Commonwealth’s reliance solely upon hearsay evidence to establish the elements of the charged offense, without providing Mr. Cosby an opportunity to confront and cross-examine his accuser, violated Mr. Cosby’s confrontation and due process rights,” his legal team said in a statement.

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office could not be reached for comment on Wednesday evening.

Cosby, who personified the model American family man in his television hit “The Cosby Show,” asked earlier this year for the charges to be dismissed, arguing that prosecutors had violated terms under which he gave a deposition in the civil lawsuit.

Judge Elizabeth McHugh rejected that request in May and ordered Cosby to stand trial.

Filed days before the statute of limitations was to expire, these are the only criminal charges Cosby faces after more than 50 women accused him of sexual assault.

Prosecutors have said that Constand, a former basketball coach at Temple University, Cosby’s alma mater, was a guest at Cosby’s home in Cheltenham near Philadelphia when he gave her wine and urged her to take three pills.

They have said that Constand became incapacitated and that Cosby sexually assaulted her.

(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Peter Cooney)

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC571I7-VIEWIMAGE

← Previous Post Next Post →
Advertisement - Continue reading below
Share  On Facebook

Pokemon Go gets big Comic-Con stage, creator talks success and future

U.S. will not charge Minneapolis police in shooting of black man

Break-in at Orlando nightclub, one month after deadly rampage

Kentucky clerk opposed to gay marriage says state law negates appeal

‘Bad Moms’ launches in Los Angeles

FAU Poll Shows Floridians Favor Obama Over Trump on Cuba Policy, Doubt Policy Changes Will Help Cuban People

New York City gives nod to 5-cent charge for store bags

Incoming U.N. climate chief seeks swift action: at odds with Trump

Machinists vote to strike at Triumph plant supplying Boeing, Airbus

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Announces Statement on Federal Civil Rights Enforcement and its Reports Planning for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy