Bill Cosby departs the Montgomery County Courthouse after a preliminary hearing, May 24, 2016, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. (Photo : Getty Images/ Matt Rourke-Pool)
More than a decade after he was first accused of sexual misconduct, Bill Cosby has been told to go to trial. A Pennsylvania judge ruled during a hearing on May 24, Tuesday, that there are enough evidences to proceed with a criminal trial over sexual assault charges stemming from a 2004 incident.
"This case will move forward," New York Times quoted judge McHugh as saying.
Cosby is currently facing three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault involving Andrea Constand, an employee of his alma mater, Temple University. She was the first of about 60 women who have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct to date.
The alleged incident came into light when Constand took her complaint to the police about what she said was a drugging and sexual assault at Cosby's home in early 2004. However, a former district attorney in Montgomery County chose not to pursue charges in 2005.
According to Constand's complaint, Cosby gave her three blue pills that made her feel dizzy and then sexually violated her at his home in Pennsylvania. The 78-year-old comedian has maintained that the sexual activity was consensual.
The case was reopened in 2015 after many other women came forward with similar accusations against Cosby. The move also followed the publication of some parts of his 2005 deposition in which he admitted obtaining and providing quaaludes as a part of his effort to have sex with other women.
The prosecutors decided to bring up charges against Cosby at the end of December 2015, just before the statute of limitations was set to expire in 2016. The comedian is also facing several other civil suits, but this is the only criminal case.
It is not clear when the trial will start. If convicted of the charges, Cosby faces up to 30 years in prison. Meanwhile, Cosby's defense attorney has slammed the decision to move forward with a trial.
"The evidence presented today was evidence of nothing. They had 12 years to bring an accuser to confront Mr. Cosby. They chose not to," CNN quoted defense attorney Brian McMonagle as saying.
Meanwhile, watch the excerpt of Cosby's interview below:
