Bill Cosby Ordered to Stand Trial on Charges of Sexual Assault
Bill Cosby has been ordered by a judge to stand trial for criminal assault charges stemming from a particular alleged incident that took place over a decade ago. The Associated Press, meanwhile, released further disturbing excerpts from the 2005 deposition Cosby gave after Andrea Constand first brought sexual assault charges against him.
Philadelphia Judge Elizabeth A. McHugh ruled that there’s enough evidence for a criminal case to proceed against Cosby, based on testimony from Constand, who claims the comedian drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2004, according to the New York Times.
“This case will move forward,” the judge said before wishing Cosby luck.
Cosby could potentially face ten years in prison if convicted.
In the unsealed 2005 deposition testimony, Cosby tells the court about an encounter he had with Constand, when he says he gave her three pills without asking “verbally” for her consent. He also admits to owning seven prescriptions for Quaaludes, which he would administer to women he wanted to have sex with “the same as a person would say, ‘Have a drink,’” despite knowing it was illegal.
Cosby also admits to buying Constand's and Therese Serignese's (who also accused the actor of raping her in 1976) silence, as well as detailing three separate incidents during which he gave sedatives to young women, teenagers among them. One was allegedly 17 at the time.
Cosby is also currently facing several civil defamation suits brought against him by other victims who accused him of sexual assault and rape in the past, claiming Cosby has publicly branded them as liars.