Bill Cosby’s mugshot from December 2015. Photo courtesy of Heavy.
Summary: Bill Cosby’s preliminary trial for felony sexual assault charges is set for May 24 in Pennsylvania.
Will Bill Cosby accuser, Andrea Constand, have to face her alleged rapist on May 24th? That’s the question ABC News recently delved into.
JD Journal reported in December that Pennsylvania prosecutors filed felony assault charges against the formerly beloved comedian on Constand’s behalf. Constand was an employee at Temple University in 2004 when she met Cosby. She alleged that he drugged and raped her, and in 2005, she reported the incident. The district attorney at the time did not follow through with the case because she felt it was unwinnable. However, as numerous other alleged victims came forward, the current District Attorney decided to move forward, filing charges and just barely missing the deadline for the statute of limitations.
ABC News reported that Constand may not have to face Cosby at the May 24 preliminary hearing. The news outlet stated that it is now becoming more common for prosecutors to use the victim’s police statements in pre-trial hearings. The intent of this is to spare accusers of multiple, traumatic visits to court.
“Laws across the country are evolving to allow more hearsay evidence at pretrial hearings,” ABC News writes. “In California, Wisconsin and other states, police can instead read witness statements into the record.”
However, in Pennsylvania it is rare that victims do not testify in person at preliminary hearings. But a case ruled last year may change that. In Commonwealth v. Ricker, a court ruled that a defendant’s right to face his or her accuser does not come into play until the actual trial.
District Attorney Kevin Steele of Philadelphia is leading the prosecution. Cosby is represented by attorney, Monique Pressley.
Constand is represented by attorney Dolores Troiani, who told the media her client is prepared to face public scrutiny that comes with such a high profile case.
Source: ABC News