NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The Latest on Bill Cosby’s preliminary hearing in his Pennsylvania sex-assault case (all times local):
1:20 p.m.
Bill Cosby is waiving his right to formal arraignment in a Pennsylvania sex assault case.
Cosby was ordered Tuesday to stand trial in the lone criminal case lodged amid dozens of accusations that he molested women.
He was initially scheduled to be arraigned on July 20, at which time he could enter a formal plea. Instead, he waived his right to appear at that proceeding. That sets the case on a trajectory for trial.
The 78-year-old actor faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of violating the accuser while she was impaired, unconscious or could not give consent.
Cosby insists their sexual encounter at his home was consensual and that she never told him to stop.
He has been free on $1 million bail since his Dec. 30 arrest.
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1 p.m.
Bill Cosby has been ordered to stand trial in the lone criminal case lodged amid dozens of accusations that he molested women.
The 78-year-old actor faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of violating the accuser while she was impaired, unconscious or could not give consent.
Cosby insists their sexual encounter at his home was consensual and that she never told him to stop.
He has been free on $1 million bail since his Dec. 30 arrest.
District Judge Elizabeth McHugh found probable cause he was involved in a crime. The judge heard portions of accuser Andrea Constand’s police statement read in court.
The Montgomery County case is the only criminal charge facing Cosby, though he is also battling defamation, sex-assault and insurance lawsuits in other states.
Cosby is due back for arraignment on July 20.
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11:50 a.m.
A Pennsylvania judge deciding whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring Bill Cosby to trial has heard excerpts of the comedian’s interview with police.
Cosby told police in 2005 that he had other “petting” sessions with Andrea Constand and at least once stopped kissing her breast when she asked him to.
Tuesday’s preliminary hearing will determine if the 78-year-old Cosby goes to trial for criminal sexual assault.
Cosby told police that Constand never said “no” as he put his hand down her pants and fondled her on the night in question in 2004.
Constand told them she was “in and out” of consciousness after taking three pills that Cosby said were herbal medication.
Cosby told police he gave Constand one-and-a-half pills and that she never asked what they were. He told detectives they were over-the-counter Benadryl, an antihistamine that he takes to help him sleep.
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11:10 a.m.
Bill Cosby’s lawyers are dissecting an 11-year-old police statement in an attempt to discredit the woman accusing him of sexual assault in Pennsylvania.
Defense lawyer Brian McMonagle pointed to contact Andrea Constand said she had with Cosby after the 2004 encounter in which she said Cosby molested her.
A judge will determine whether Montgomery County prosecutors have enough evidence to send the 78-year-old entertainer to trial.
Detective Katherine Hart testified Constand told detectives in 2005 that she returned to Cosby’s home because she wanted to confront him about what had happened.
Constand also told detectives she contacted Cosby after the encounter because she wanted tickets to one of his comedy shows. McMonagle says Constand brought her family to the performance and had a present for Cosby.
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10:45 a.m.
A Pennsylvania judge has heard portions of the statement Bill Cosby’s accuser gave to police, leading to a felony sexual assault charge against the comedian.
Prosecutors hope the 2005 police statement will provide enough evidence for a judge to decide Tuesday that the case against the 78-year-old can go to trial.
Andrea Constand told police that Cosby penetrated her with his fingers as she drifted in and out of consciousness soon after he gave her three blue pills in 2004.
She said she had told Cosby she “trusted” him when he gave her the pills and told her it was herbal medication.
On cross examination, Cosby attorney Brian McMonagle questioned the fact that Constand continued to see Cosby and even returned to his house outside Philadelphia to meet with him after the encounter.
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10:35 a.m.
A woman accusing Bill Cosby of sexual assault isn’t testifying at his preliminary hearing.
A suburban Philadelphia judge says prosecutors can have other witnesses read Andrea Constand’s police statements into the record at Tuesday’s hearing. The judge will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to send the 78-year-old entertainer to trial.
Law enforcement officers testifying instead of accusers is a common practice at preliminary hearings in Pennsylvania.
Cosby’s lawyers argued that state court rules allowing such third-party testimony deprive Cosby of his right to confront his accuser.
Constand says Cosby drugged and assaulted her at his home in 2004. She is not in the courtroom.
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9:10 a.m.
Bill Cosby is in a Pennsylvania courthouse for a key hearing in his criminal sex-assault case.
Dressed in a dark suit, Cosby waved toward cameras and walked into the courthouse in Norristown on Tuesday morning.
His preliminary hearing will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to send the 78-year-old entertainer to trial.
Cosby is accused of drugging and molesting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004.
Cosby says they engaged in consensual sexual activities.
It’s not known if Constand will testify or if police will instead read her statement about the encounter that night.
Cosby faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of aggravated indecent assault.
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12:40 a.m.
Bill Cosby is due in Pennsylvania court for a key hearing in his criminal sex-assault case.
Tuesday’s preliminary hearing will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to send the 78-year-old entertainer to trial.
Cosby is accused of drugging and molesting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004.
Cosby says they engaged in consensual sexual activities.
It’s not known if Constand will testify or if police will instead read her statement about the encounter that night.
Cosby faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of aggravated indecent assault.
Prosecutors reopened the criminal case last year after dozens of women raised similar claims and Cosby’s deposition in Constand’s lawsuit surfaced.
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