Judge Threatens To Call In Sheriff's Deputies During Chaotic Bill Cosby Sex Assault Hearing
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS/AP) -- Threatening to call in sheriff's deputies, a judge repeatedly admonished lawyers on both sides of Bill Cosby's sexual assault case Tuesday during a high-stakes hearing in a Montgomery County courtroom that will determine whether prosecutors can call as many as 13 accusers as trial witnesses.
CBS 3's Greg Argos reports District Attorney Kevin Steele got into an argument with defense attorney Brian McMonagle during the final pre-trial hearing after Steele objected to the use of the defense naming 13 alleged Cosby accusers.
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McMonagle shot back, stating Steele's objection was excessive since 10 of the 13 possible witnesses have already been named publicly, with some even holding press conferences detailing the alleged assaults.
"These are witnesses in a trial. They are not children," he argued.
Judge Stephen O'Neill ultimately ruled Cosby's lawyers could identify 11 of the women by name since they'd already told their stories publicly. He said two of the women have remained out of the spotlight and shouldn't be identified in court.
Later, Steele blew up at the defense over the positioning of a projection screen, saying Cosby's lawyers had it placed so the women's names would be seen by dozens of reporters in the courtroom gallery. He again accused the defense of witness intimidation.
McMonagle said courtroom staff positioned the screen, but he agreed to remove accusers' names from a planned presentation.
O'Neill said he'd be forced to call in sheriff's deputies if the lawyers couldn't conduct themselves properly.
KYW Newsradio's Jim Melwert reports Cosby himself even got in on the action. During the prosecution argument, there was some confusion over Cosby's age. As they looked over paperwork to find it, Cosby piped up from the defendant's table, saying 1937, before adding July 12.
Then again, after a question over what city an accuser was in, Cosby again piped up with the answer, shouting from the defendant's table, "the Drake is in Chicago."
O'Neill will have to decide whether or not to allow the 13 witnesses to testify in the case involving former Temple basketball coach Andrea Constand.
Constand alleges the 79-year-old Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her at his Cheltenham home in 2005.
The hearing continues Wednesday.
Cosby's trial is set for June of next year.
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