Comedian's preliminary hearing temporarily stopped

joan

March 2, 2016 11:01 AM

Bill Cosby's scheduled preliminary hearing on criminal charges stemming from an alleged 2004 drugging and sexual assault of Andrea Constand has been halted.

Bill Cosby mugshot

Bill Cosby can breath for a week or two after his scheduled preliminary hearing on criminal charges stemming from an alleged 2004 drugging and sexual assault of Andrea Constand was halted on Tuesday, March 1.

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania granted him an extension; issuing an order that temporarily stays the lower court proceedings pending a verdict on the local D.A.’s motion to kill the actor’s appeal in the matter.

According to Deadline, court officials confirm that this means next Tuesday’s hearing in Judge Steven O’Neill’s Norristown courtroom is canceled for now. On February 12, Cosby and his lawyers filed a direct appeal to the state’s Superior Court to appeal Oneill’s ruling February 3 that the case involving three felony second-degree aggravated indecent assault charges could still go to trial

On February 29, the Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele filed a suit asking the higher court to reject Cosby’s appeal attempt until after a trial is over. Steele’s motion on Monday is what triggered the response from the Superior Court.

Cosby was arrested last year and released on $1 million bail without entering a plea. Cosby later went after the alleged victim, Constand, her mother, her lawyers and the owners of the National Enquirer in federal court to get the money from a 2006 civil case settlement back.

If convicted, Cosby could land in jail for 10 years!

joan