Bill Cosby charged over historic sexual assault

Bill Cosby has been charged with felony sexual assault over an incident in 2004 at his Philadelphia-area mansion, a Pennsylvania prosecutor said yesterday, in the first criminal case involving the comedian after years of mounting accusations.

Charges were brought against the 78-year-old — who allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a woman — just before the statute of limitations in the case ran out in January.

An arrest warrant was issued for Cosby, Montgomery County first assistant district attorney Kevin R Steele told a news conference.