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Judge Steven O’Neill in the Cosby Sexual Assault Trial will allow Five Accusers to Testify

In the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial set to begin this month, Judge Steven O’Neill said that he would allow Janice Dickinson, Janice-Baker-Kinney, Heidi Thomas, Chelan Lasha and Lise-Lotte Lublin to testify for the prosecution.

Published

9 years ago

April 2, 2018

BlackPressUSA Newswire

By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor)

Quaaludes may not be a part of the retrial of Bill Cosby.

During pretrial hearings in the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial, Judge Steven O’Neill indicated that he may not allow such testimony, which dominated headlines the previous trial last year.

O’Neill said that he would allow at least five other women who have accused Cosby of sexual assault, including model and reality TV star Janice Dickinson, who said Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her decades ago.

Janice-Baker-Kinney, Heidi Thomas, Chelan Lasha and Lise-Lotte Lublin are the four other primary witnesses who’ve made public accusations against Cosby in the media since the current case made news in late 2014.

The judge may also allow the prosecution to call four additional witnesses to support testimony from the so-called prior-bad-acts alleged victims.

But, he said the mention of Quaaludes could be [overly] prejudicial, because he’s allowing testimony from the additional accusers. Last year, O’Neill allowed just one such individual to testify.

“The evidence has changed in this case,” O’Neill said in court last Friday.

Cosby’s lawyers argued that his deposition testimony from a 2005 civil suit with Andrea Constand should not have been allowed in the first trial and because it had many references to Quaaludes, it caused a media stir.

They said the comedian never admitted to plying women with Quaaludes, but the redacted version of the deposition used at the 2017 trial appeared to show him admitting that he did.

Defense lawyers also said testimony about Quaaludes would also be irrelevant, because it isn’t alleged that he plied Constand with the drug. Cosby has admitted to giving Constand Benadryl.

Cosby, 80, faces three counts of aggravated indecent sexual assault stemming from a 2004 incident at his Elkins Park, Pa., home with Constand, who claims he drugged and digitally penetrated her.

While the judge has continually admonished both sides from “trying their case for reporters,” and he’s repeatedly ask that the lawyers temper their comments and stick to law, fireworks continue to erupt in the courthouse.

Assistant District Attorney Kristen Feden seemed to suggest that she wanted to take her battle with Defense Attorney Kathleen Bliss outside.

Angrily yelling and pointing at Bliss, Feden challenged the older lawyer, as O’Neill simply held his head in hand and some court observers sat stunned while others gasped.

Meanwhile, O’Neill is also expected to rule on several other items, including whether to admit testimony from potential defense witness, Marguerite Jackson who worked at Temple University with Constand. If allowed, Jackson is expected to testify that Constand told her of a scheme to fabricate sexual assault claims against a big name celebrity.

O’Neill excluded Jackson’s testimony in the first trial, but the judge has said repeatedly that those rulings are no longer binding.

Attorneys for the comedian also want to admit details of his $3.5 million civil settlement to Constand in 2006. Prosecutors have objected, but have asked that if the judge allows it, they should be able to introduce statements made during the negotiations of that payout.

“It paid off, just as she said it would and that’s our theory,” Cosby lawyer Kathleen Bliss said of the settlement and the alleged comments Constand made to Jackson.

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BlackPressUSA Newswire

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Featured

“Money, Power, and Respect,” (SEIU) President April Verrett

SEIU President April Verrett is hitting the road to rally for “Money, Power, and Respect.” Join her and MN Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan to demand fair treatment for workers!

Published

13 hours ago

October 10, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Driving home workers’ demand for “Money, Power, and Respect,” Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President April Verrett will join Minnesota Lt. Governor and U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan this weekend to knock doors and speak with community members in Minneapolis about what’s at stake in this midterm election. Starting in the Twin Cities, where tens of thousands of workers took to the streets to defy a brutal surge by ICE and Border Patrol this winter, shows what workers can do when they stand together across race, background and zip code.

This weekend will kick off a cross-country tour where President Verrett will be visiting states to campaign with bold candidates that have proven they will fight for workers and who come from labor and working families. Stops will include: Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania. This summer, SEIU launched its largest-ever member-led political program, engaging 1 million members to reach 10-15 million voters across the country by the midterm elections.

Featured

Your Vote Matters…Protect Your Freedoms!

Your vote is your voice! Protect your freedoms and make sure your rights are heard. 🗳️✊🏾

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15 hours ago

October 10, 2026

Vote to protect freedoms: San Diego Voice & Viewpoint emphasizes citizen impact

🗳️✊🏾 Your vote is your voice, and your freedoms are worth protecting! Don’t sit on the sidelines when your rights and your future are at stake.

🎙️ Hear more in the full podcast episode on YouTube channel! ☝🏾

#YourVoteMatters #ProtectYourRights #FromTheDeskOfTheEditor #VoiceAndViewpoint

Featured

Defender ONE-on-ONE: U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee

Texas Congressman Christian Menefee reflects on his first 250 days in the U.S. House. Hear his insights on legislative priorities, minority party challenges, and why every vote matters.

Published

2 days ago

October 9, 2026

Houston Defender's One-on-One interview with U.S. Representative Christian Menefee on Capitol Hill.

In an exclusive interview with The Defender, Texas Congressman Christian Menefee sits down to reflect on his first 250 days serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Congressman Menefee shares key insights into his legislative priorities, introducing new bills, and navigating the day-to-day challenges of serving in the house minority. He breaks down why every vote matters in shaping our communities and offers a preview of the urgent legislative issues he plans to tackle next.

In this video, you’ll hear about: • Reflections on his first 250 days in Congress • Key legislation introduced and priority bills • Navigating the realities and strategy of serving in the house minority • Why civic engagement and voter participation remain critical • What lies ahead on his legislative agenda

Subscribe to The Defender for more exclusive political coverage, interviews, and community insights!

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#ChristianMenefee #USCongress #TexasPolitics #TheDefender #CommunityNews #CivicEngagement #houseofrepresentativeselection2026

Chapters
0:00 Introduction and the Importance of Voting
1:12 First 250 Days and Improving Constituent Services
2:40 Oversight Committee and Environmental Justice
4:05 Rebuilding an Empty Congressional Office
6:10 The SET Act: Ending Vacancies in Representation
8:25 Life in the Minority and Playing Defense
10:45 Foreign Policy, Inflation, and Gas Prices
12:50 Economic Goals: Child Care and Housing
14:20 Redistricting and Respecting Leadership
16:15 The Rotisserie Chicken Vote and SNAP Benefits
18:20 Congressional Black Caucus Highlights
19:45 Final Call to Action for Texas Voters

Make sure to check your voter registration status and head to the polls to make your voice heard in the upcoming election. If you found this update helpful, please like this video and subscribe to stay informed on the issues that matter most to your community. 📢

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How To Manage Conflict at Work

Learn to leverage conflict, not avoid it! Unlock performance and profits with these expert tips.

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Leadership consultant Dethra U. Giles, founder and CEO of ExecuPrep and author of “That’s Not What I Said: Master Conflict With Conversational Competence,” shares her framework for how to stop avoiding tough conversations at work and instead how to start leveraging conflict to unlock performance, productivity, and profits.

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