Disgraced US megastar&nbsp;Bill&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;is due to stand trial for sexual assault on June 5, 2017 in what could see up to 13 other alleged victims testify against the award-winning comedian turned pariah.

Judge Steven O&#39;Neill set the date after the 79-year-old pioneering black comedian made multiple attempts to head off the possibility of a trial stemming from one alleged incident at his Philadelphia home in 2004.

But O&#39;Neill advised lawyers that the trial could start even earlier if schedules permit. He also said that given the defense assertion that&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;is blind, the defendant may require special assistance in court.

Andrea Constand, who worked for the Temple University basketball team at the time, alleges thatCosby&nbsp;plied her with pills and wine, then sat her down on a couch at his Philadelphia home where he assaulted her.

Cosby&nbsp;says he gave her a pill, but insists their relations with consensual. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted.

Dressed in a pinstripe jacket and gray pants,&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;had appeared animated and engaged in conversation with his lawyers before Tuesday&#39;s hearing at Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, northwest of Philadelphia.

But the prospective trial cements a brutal fall from grace for the once treasured father figure and apparent model citizen who smashed through racial barriers and delighted audiences with his gentle, self-deprecating humor.

In recent years, more than 50 women have publicly accused him of being a sexual predator spanning four decades, making remarkably similar allegations that he fed them sedatives and alcohol that made them unable to resist his advances.

$1 million bail

The vast majority of the alleged abuses happened too long ago to prosecute, making the Constand case the only criminal charge brought against&nbsp;Cosby.

Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele told the court that he wants up to 13 other alleged victims to testify at trial. The judge has yet to agree and&nbsp;Cosby&#39;s legal team will likely put up fierce resistance.

The defense vowed their client would continue &quot;the fight for his rights&quot; and accused a lawyer representing other alleged sexual assault victims of waging a campaign&nbsp;built &quot;on&nbsp;racial bias&nbsp;and prejudice.&quot;

&quot;When the media repeats her accusations&nbsp;-- with no evidence, no trial and no jury -- we are moved backwards as a country and away from&nbsp;the America that our&nbsp;civil&nbsp;rights leaders&nbsp;sacrificed so much to create,&quot; they said.

Those allegations have seen celebrity pals and millions more malign the legend who attained his greatest fame for his role as a lovable obstetrician and family man in the hit 1980s television sitcom &quot;The&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;Show.&quot;

The Constand case was initially settled by a civil suit in 2006 but prosecutors reopened claiming that new evidence had come to light.

The former star posted bail at $1 million in the case last December, but has yet to enter a plea.

The Cosby show

If he pleads guilty,&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;could avoid the enormous publicity that will come with one of America&#39;s most famous entertainers going on trial.

In her original deposition in January 2005, Constand said&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;plied her with pills and wine, then sat her down on a couch, where the actor allegedly fondled her breasts, put his fingers in her vagina and put her hand on his erect penis.

Cosby&#39;s legal team mock Constand&#39;s credibility, saying she chopped and changed her evidence, and omitted from the final version lying down on a bed next to the actor and later visiting his home for dinner.

Constand, who now lives in Canada, has yet to appear at any public hearing.

Cosby&#39;s most famous role was as Cliff Huxtable, the affable father of an upper middle class black family in New York, in &quot;The&nbsp;Cosby&nbsp;Show&quot; from 1984 to 1992.

It was one of the most popular TV series of all time and jettisoned the actor into a life of fame and millions, following a humble childhood during which he was raised by a maid and a US Navy cook.

Cosby&nbsp;served in the Navy himself and won an athletic scholarship to Temple, before moving into comedy. In addition to television, he wrote books and appeared in movies.

His wife Camille has stood by his side. The couple have five children. Their son Ennis was shot dead in 1997 while changing a flat tire in California. 
 
(AFP)

The American comedian faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted

Disgraced US megastar Bill Cosby is due to stand trial for sexual assault on June 5, 2017 in what could see up to 13 other alleged victims testify against the award-winning comedian turned pariah. Judge Steven O'Neill set the date after the 79-year-old pioneering black comedian made multiple attempts to head off the possibility of a trial stemming from one alleged incident at his Philadelphia home in 2004. But O'Neill advised lawyers that the trial could start even earlier if schedules permit. He also said that given the defense assertion that Cosby is blind, the defendant may require special assistance in court. Andrea Constand, who worked for the Temple University basketball team at the time, alleges thatCosby plied her with pills and wine, then sat her down on a couch at his Philadelphia home where he assaulted her. Cosby says he gave her a pill, but insists their relations with consensual. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted. Dressed in a pinstripe jacket and gray pants, Cosby had appeared animated and engaged in conversation with his lawyers before Tuesday's hearing at Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, northwest of Philadelphia. But the prospective trial cements a brutal fall from grace for the once treasured father figure and apparent model citizen who smashed through racial barriers and delighted audiences with his gentle, self-deprecating humor. In recent years, more than 50 women have publicly accused him of being a sexual predator spanning four decades, making remarkably similar allegations that he fed them sedatives and alcohol that made them unable to resist his advances. $1 million bail The vast majority of the alleged abuses happened too long ago to prosecute, making the Constand case the only criminal charge brought against Cosby. Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele told the court that he wants up to 13 other alleged victims to testify at trial. The judge has yet to agree and Cosby's legal team will likely put up fierce resistance. The defense vowed their client would continue "the fight for his rights" and accused a lawyer representing other alleged sexual assault victims of waging a campaign built "on racial bias and prejudice." "When the media repeats her accusations -- with no evidence, no trial and no jury -- we are moved backwards as a country and away from the America that our civil rights leaders sacrificed so much to create," they said. Those allegations have seen celebrity pals and millions more malign the legend who attained his greatest fame for his role as a lovable obstetrician and family man in the hit 1980s television sitcom "The Cosby Show." The Constand case was initially settled by a civil suit in 2006 but prosecutors reopened claiming that new evidence had come to light. The former star posted bail at $1 million in the case last December, but has yet to enter a plea. The Cosby show If he pleads guilty, Cosby could avoid the enormous publicity that will come with one of America's most famous entertainers going on trial. In her original deposition in January 2005, Constand said Cosby plied her with pills and wine, then sat her down on a couch, where the actor allegedly fondled her breasts, put his fingers in her vagina and put her hand on his erect penis. Cosby's legal team mock Constand's credibility, saying she chopped and changed her evidence, and omitted from the final version lying down on a bed next to the actor and later visiting his home for dinner. Constand, who now lives in Canada, has yet to appear at any public hearing. Cosby's most famous role was as Cliff Huxtable, the affable father of an upper middle class black family in New York, in "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992. It was one of the most popular TV series of all time and jettisoned the actor into a life of fame and millions, following a humble childhood during which he was raised by a maid and a US Navy cook. Cosby served in the Navy himself and won an athletic scholarship to Temple, before moving into comedy. In addition to television, he wrote books and appeared in movies. His wife Camille has stood by his side. The couple have five children. Their son Ennis was shot dead in 1997 while changing a flat tire in California. (AFP)

Bill Cosby's sex assault trial on June 5

Actor Will Smith and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will be among the pallbearers for Muhammad Ali&#39;s funeral on Friday June 10, joining a list of notable athletes, entertainers and politicians to mourn the boxing legend&#39;s death. 
 
Former US President Bill Clinton, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and comedian Billy Crystal were among those previously announced as participating in public events as the world grieves the loss of the boxer, showman and antiwar activist who captivated global attention in the 1960s and 1970s. 
 
One of the transcendent figures of the 20th century, Ali, died on Friday at age 74. Family spokesman Bob Gunnell announced the details of the memorial services on Monday June 6. 
 
Smith played Ali in the 2001 movie of the same name, earning an Oscar nomination and becoming a family friend. London-born Lewis, who went on to represent Canada in the Olympics, is one of three boxers along with Ali and Evander Holyfield to have held the heavyweight title three times. 
 
They will be joined by relatives and family friends in carrying the casket through Ali&#39;s home town of Louisville, Kentucky on Friday. 
 
More than 30,000 tickets will be distributed to the public for two memorials scheduled for Thursday and Friday in sports arenas in the city. 
 
About 300 fans who could not wait gathered on Monday outside Ali&#39;s childhood home for a memorial led by Islamic leaders, a dance group and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. 
 
Dwight Richardson, 32, a youth counsellor, brought seven kids he works with so they could learn about Ali&#39;s message. 
 
&quot;People might not like it, but if you stand up for what you believe in, then you won&#39;t be a pushover,&quot; Richardson said. 
 
Ali who suffered from Parkinson&#39;s disease for many years and his family had planned his funeral for a decade. 
 
Official events start with a private ceremony on Thursday, followed by an Islamic service for the public at Freedom Hall, the site of Ali&#39;s last professional fight in Louisville, where he defeated Willi Besmanoff on Nov. 29, 1961. The service will be led by Imam Zaid Shakir of California. 
 
On Friday, Ali&#39;s family will gather for prayers, to be followed by the funeral procession through Louisville. The route will include a boulevard bearing Ali&#39;s name on the way to the Cave Hill Cemetery. 
 
The main service will take place at the KFC Yum! Center on Friday afternoon, when Clinton and Crystal are scheduled to deliver eulogies. 
 
In addition, Fischer announced an &quot;I Am Ali&quot; Festival on Wednesday with programming for children.

Will Smith had played Ali in the 2001 biopic based on the legendary boxer's life. Lennox Lewis is among the three boxers who have held the heavyweight title three times

Actor Will Smith and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will be among the pallbearers for Muhammad Ali's funeral on Friday June 10, joining a list of notable athletes, entertainers and politicians to mourn the boxing legend's death. Former US President Bill Clinton, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and comedian Billy Crystal were among those previously announced as participating in public events as the world grieves the loss of the boxer, showman and antiwar activist who captivated global attention in the 1960s and 1970s. One of the transcendent figures of the 20th century, Ali, died on Friday at age 74. Family spokesman Bob Gunnell announced the details of the memorial services on Monday June 6. Smith played Ali in the 2001 movie of the same name, earning an Oscar nomination and becoming a family friend. London-born Lewis, who went on to represent Canada in the Olympics, is one of three boxers along with Ali and Evander Holyfield to have held the heavyweight title three times. They will be joined by relatives and family friends in carrying the casket through Ali's home town of Louisville, Kentucky on Friday. More than 30,000 tickets will be distributed to the public for two memorials scheduled for Thursday and Friday in sports arenas in the city. About 300 fans who could not wait gathered on Monday outside Ali's childhood home for a memorial led by Islamic leaders, a dance group and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. Dwight Richardson, 32, a youth counsellor, brought seven kids he works with so they could learn about Ali's message. "People might not like it, but if you stand up for what you believe in, then you won't be a pushover," Richardson said. Ali who suffered from Parkinson's disease for many years and his family had planned his funeral for a decade. Official events start with a private ceremony on Thursday, followed by an Islamic service for the public at Freedom Hall, the site of Ali's last professional fight in Louisville, where he defeated Willi Besmanoff on Nov. 29, 1961. The service will be led by Imam Zaid Shakir of California. On Friday, Ali's family will gather for prayers, to be followed by the funeral procession through Louisville. The route will include a boulevard bearing Ali's name on the way to the Cave Hill Cemetery. The main service will take place at the KFC Yum! Center on Friday afternoon, when Clinton and Crystal are scheduled to deliver eulogies. In addition, Fischer announced an "I Am Ali" Festival on Wednesday with programming for children.

Will Smith, Lennox Lewis to be pallbearers at Muhammad Ali's funeral

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