Judge moves Cosby jury selection to April 2, nixes big delay

PHILADELPHIA — A judge is pushing back the start of Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial just a few days after rejecting his lawyers’ demands for a three-month delay.

Judge Steven O’Neill on Monday moved the start of jury selection to April 2 from March 29. He scheduled hearings March 29 and 30 to resolve pretrial issues.

Cosby’s lawyers were pressing for a longer delay after O’Neill ruled last week that up to five additional accusers could testify. They argued they needed more time to investigate the women’s allegations and work up a defence.

Cosby has pleaded not guilty to charges he drugged and molested Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.