Bill Cosby allowed to delay giving evidence as he might disclose facts that could 'support a conviction'

Mr Cosby, 78, has been accused of sexual crimes by at least 50 women Getty

Disgraced comedian Bill Cosby continues to fight a logistical tangle of court cases in which at least nine women have accused him of sexual crimes and defamation in states across the US.

The latest knot comes as a federal judge in Massachusetts has allowed Mr Cosby to delay giving evidence in a case in which he allegedly defamed women who had accused him of abuse, saying the women fabricated evidence against him and were lying.

The judge made the decision to allow the delay on the grounds that were Mr Cosby to provide the facts in the Massachusetts case now, it might muddy the waters in his upcoming criminal case in Pennsylvania.

US District Judge Mark Mastroianni ruled that 78-year-old Mr Cosby has a right to delay providing evidence to avoid “incriminating himself in the criminal case” by disclosing anything that may “support a conviction”, as reported by Reuters.

Mr Cosby benefitted from a similar ruling last week in California in a case where he was accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old woman in 1974. The judge decided Mr Cosby could delay his scheduled deposition and giving evidence, and also delayed the plaintiff Judy Huth, who accused Mr Cosby of sexual battery, from giving her evidence.

Mr Cosby’s saga started in 2015 when he was charged with sexually assaulting former basketball coach Andrea Costand in 2004.

Among the alleged survivors, seven women in Massachusetts are waiting to go to court against him and have accused him of defamation. He also has a defamation lawsuit from model Janice Dickson in Los Angeles.

In February Mr Cosby temporarily dropped his defamation lawsuit against Beverly Johnson, the first black model on the cover of Vogue who accused him of drugging her and attempting to sexually assault her, as his lawyer said he had to concentrate on an upcoming court case in Pennsylvania against Ms Costand.

In the last two years, more than 50 women have accused the comedian and star of “The Cosby Show” of rape and other sexual crimes. He has denied the allegations.

Many of the alleged crimes took place decades ago and have therefore exceeded the statute of limitations, meaning these women cannot prosecute Mr Cosby.

Mr Cosby is free on bail on the case in Pennsylvania, the only criminal prosecution he faces.