December 30, 2016
Bill Cosby's lawyers have requested to move his trial away from the Philadelphia area, according to multiple reports Friday.
The defense cited "extensive, sustained and pervasive" news coverage of Cosby's pretrial hearings as a reason to move the trial from Norristown to a "larger urban center" or to bring in a jury away from the area, according to a request made to Judge Steven O'Neill, the Inquirer reported.
The defense has also said that the 79-year-old actor and comedian has been a part of what they call an "inflammatory and prejudicial smear campaign," according to The Associated Press.
Last December, Cosby was charged with aggravated sexual assault.
The actor's defense team pointed to headlines like the New York Daily News' "America's Rapist" as an example. It's not clear where the trial would be held instead.
His trial is scheduled for June.
