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Bill Cosby May Face Accuser In Preliminary Hearing

By Jim Melwert

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Bill Cosby will be in court in Montgomery county Tuesday, with the possibility of facing his accuser for the first time since criminal sex assault charges were filed against the 78-year-old comedian back in December.

While there is the chance Bill Cosby's accuser could take the stand, under Pennsylvania law, the case could move forward with prosecutors simply relying on testimony from detectives based on Andrea Constand's statement to police back in 2005.

In that statement, Constand alleges, back in 2004, Bill Cosby invited her to his Cheltenham mansion, gave her pills, and then fondled her while she was incapacitated.

Constand did not come forward with the allegations until a year later. The DA at the time declined to press charges. The investigation was re-opened after a deposition was unsealed last summer and dozens of other women came forward.

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