Cosby’s lawyers try to block accusers

Bill Cosby’s lawyers fought Tuesday to block a parade of women from testifying against him at his sexual assault retrial, saying the accusers are peddling “ancient allegations” that would prejudice the jury against the 80-year-old comedian.

Stung by a hung jury the first time around, prosecutors are pushing to widen the scope of Cosby’s April retrial to cast him as one of the biggest serial predators in a Hollywood suddenly aware of sexual misconduct in the #MeToo era.

The defence argued that prosecutors want to call as many as 19 other accusers to the stand because they’re desperate to bolster an otherwise weak case. Cosby lawyer Becky James told a judge that none of the women should be allowed to tell their stories to a jury because that would subject Cosby to “multiple mini-trials.”

“Even one would be too prejudicial here,” she said. “The inference is too tempting to say, ‘He must’ve done it here, because he did it before.”’

Cosby has pleaded not guilty to charges he assaulted Andrea Constand, a Temple University women’s basketball administrator, while he was a powerful alumnus and trustee.

He has said the encounter was consensual. He remains free on bail.

Judge Steven O’Neill did not immediately rule after saying Monday that it was an “extraordinarily weighty issue” that he needs time to review.

O’Neill also didn’t immediately rule on a request by Cosby’s new lawyers to allow jurors to hear details of the entertainer’s confidential financial settlement with Constand.

Prosecutors are trying to persuade him to allow as many as 19 other women to take the stand, including model Janice Dickinson, as they attempt to show the comedian had a long history of drugging and attacking women.

They’re also trying to insulate Constand from what a prosecutor called “inevitable attacks” on her credibility.