NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Manilow postpones concerts after surgery

NEW YORK

Barry Manilow has been forced to postpone two concerts after a rough week of oral surgery.

Manilow had surgery twice earlier this week and still managed to make a concert in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday. But after that, he was brought back to Los Angeles for surgery Friday when complications developed.

A Kentucky concert Thursday night was postponed, along with a Nashville, Tenn., show Friday.

Cosby’s lawyers try again to get his sex assault case tossed

PHILADELPHIA

Lawyers for Bill Cosby tried again Friday to have his criminal sex-assault case dismissed, asking an appeals court to consider whether Cosby had a binding agreement that he would never be charged.

Defense lawyers argue that Cosby had a promise from a former prosecutor that he wouldn’t be charged over the 2004 encounter with a Temple University employee and therefore should testify in the woman’s civil lawsuit.

He did, in a deposition unsealed last year that prompted a new prosecutor to reopen the case before the 12-year statute of limitations expired. Cosby said under oath that he gave the accuser three pills before engaging in sexual contact that he called consensual. He also acknowledged getting prescriptions for quaaludes so he could give them to women he hoped to seduce.

Lawyer Brian McMonagle filed the appeal notice Friday to the state Superior Court. He also appealed a judge’s decision to not disqualify Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele.

Steele, responding to the appeals, said his office opposes any further delay in the case and does not think the defense has a right to appeal before the preliminary hearing.

Associated Press