Bill Cosby: Comedian will not face charges over 1974 sex offence allegations

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Louise Thomas

Editor

Los Angeles prosecutors citing the statute of limitations have declined to file charges against the comedian Bill Cosby in connection with allegations by a Californian woman that he molested her in about 1974.

Stating that the statute of limitations had passed, The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office decided against filing a misdemeanor charge of annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18 in respect of claims made by Judy Huth.

Ms Huth had a 90-minute meeting with LA detectives about ten days ago.

She also filed a civil lawsuit on December 3 accusing Mr Cosby of forcing her to perform a sex act on him in a bedroom of the Playboy Mansion when she was 15 years old. She is demanding an unlimited amount of compensatory damages.

Mr Cosby is seeking a dismissal of this lawsuit, arguing it is blocked by the statute of limitations.

His lawyer has previously described the allegations as "decades old" and "discredited", claiming that Ms Huth attempted to extort $250,000 from the comedian before she sued and that she'd attempted to sell her story to a tabloid a decade ago.

Ms Huth is one of numerous women, including the model Janice Dickinson, the journalist Joan Tarshis and the actress Louisa Moritz, to accuse the actor of sexual assault over the past few months. Mr Cosby, however, has never been arrested or charged with any offence arising from the allegations.

He has denied the claims made against him and defended himself by saying that "people need to fact check".