No testimony from Andrea Constand pal in Bill Cosby trial

NORRISTOWN, Pa. — In a blow to Bill Cosby‘s defense, the judge overseeing his sex-assault retrial has blocked the entertainer’s lawyers from introducing sealed testimony that they say will show that his accuser planned to extort him.

As the trial moves into its 11th day, Montgomery County Court Justice Steven O’Neill said he couldn’t allow testimony given by Andrea Constand pal Sheri Williams as part of Constand’s 2005 civil suit against Cosby.

Lawyers for the fallen funnyman filed papers last week saying they intended to introduce Williams’ deposition testimony because they couldn’t find her in person.

The content of Williams’ never-before-heard testimony remains unknown. Constand landed a $3.4 million settlement from Cosby in 2006.

“There is absolutely no persuasive case law,” O’Neill stated Monday, reaffirming his concerns from last week that prosecutors would be unable to cross-examine a transcript.

Cosby, 80, faces three counts of aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and molesting Constand, a former Temple University staffer, in his suburban Philadelphia home in Jan. 2004.

Jurors are expected to get the case as early as Tuesday.

Cosby’s first trial, in June 2017, ended when those jurors were unable to return a verdict.

The defense case continues Monday.

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