Bill Cosby's Preliminary Hearing Begins In Norristown

NORRISTOWN, PA -- Bill Cosby's preliminary pretrial hearing began in Norristown on Tuesday morning.

The hearing will determine whether or not a criminal trial against the comedian will continue.

Cosby is charged with sexual assault and related charges connected to the 2005 allegations made by Temple University employee Andrea Constand.

Cosby and his defense team have tried multiple times to have the case thrown out of court.

At the conclusion of a two-day hearing in Februrary, Judge Steven T. O’Neill had tossed aside Bill Cosby’s request to dismiss the charges on the basis he had an immunity deal with the former district attorney.

That hearing was to determine whether or not charges against Cosby could move forward. Testimony centered around former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor’s claims that his alleged non-prosecution agreement with Cosby was binding.

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Cosby was charged in December in connection with a 2004 assault in Cheltenham Township. Authorities say the actor drugged and sexually assaulted Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, at his home.

The Cosby team's latest appeals to Judge O'Neill's decision were aimed at preventing the criminal case from moving forward. Both appeals were rejected, Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele said.

"We did not believe that the defense had a right to appeal at this stage, and we are gratified that the Court came to the same conclusion," said Steele. "The effect of both of these orders is that we can now hold a preliminary hearing. We are ready for that hearing and look forward to the Court setting a date so we can present our case."

Over 50 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault and related crimes, but Constand's case is the first to be brought this far along in the legal process.