Bill Cosby

This time, though, the proceedings will unfold in a markedly different courtroom – and a different world.

As before, the state criminal case centres on Cosby's word against that of Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee who alleges Cosby drugged her, then assaulted her in January 2004 at his home near Philadelphia.

Defence lawyers called to the stand a detective who led a 2005 investigation into claims that Mr Cosby drugged and molested a woman at his home in 2004.

The embattled star, 79, earlier told a judge he would not testify to defend himself against those allegations.

Mr Cosby denies the charge and his lawyer has said she agreed to sex.

Andrea Constand, the 44-year-old at the centre of the case, says the alleged incident happened during a visit to his home to seek career advice.

A Pennsylvania judge found enough evidence during a hearing Tuesday to proceed with a criminal trial. It's not clear when his trial will start.

Cosby faces three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault from a 2004 case involving Andrea Constand, an employee at his alma mater, Temple University. She was the first of more than 50 women who have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct.

If convicted, Cosby faces up to 30 years in prison.

Cosby's defense attorney slammed the decision to move forward with a trial.

Cosby was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Elkins Park on the charge, which was filed over a 2004 encounter in his home outside Philadelphia.

Police say he was fingerprinted and photographed before being released. His next court hearing is January 14.

E! News has confirmed that the United States District Court of Massachusetts dismissed the longtime comedian's attempts to throw out a libel lawsuit brought by three women who say he sexually assaulted them.

We're told the court proceedings will continue with depositions and written discovery beginning as early as within the next two weeks, meaning Cosby can and likely will be deposed.

"This is a wonderful day," Joseph Cammarata, Esq, who represents the plaintiffs, told E! News in a statement.

The University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to revoke the award amid ongoing accusations that Cosby drugged and sexually abused numerous women over the course of his career.

"A recipient's actions would have to be both unambiguously dishonorable and have a deep impact," the university said in a statement announcing its decision. "By his own admission, Mr. Cosby's sexual exploitation of women was premeditated and ongoing. Equally appalling is his longtime strategy of denigrating the reputations of women who accused him of such actions."