This week, Judge Steven O'Neill ruled that five women will be able to testify against Bill Cosby for claims of sexual assault according to CBS News. 

The ruling occurred outside Philadelphia at the Montgomery County Courthouse. The 80-year-old comedian is being charged with three counts of felony indecent sexual assault after one woman accused him of drugging and raping her in 2004. Last June, the first trial against Cosby took place and ended in hung jury. 

In his first trial, Andrea Constand and Kelly Johnson were permitted to share their accounts of what happened. Constand told the court that she was drugged and raped by Cosby in his home near Philadelphia in 2004. The defendant's attorney questioned her heavily about why she continued to keep in contact with Cosby following the alleged assault and why she waited a year to report the attack.

Judge Steven O'Neill did not respond to a request for an explanation as to why he is allowing more to testify.

The prosecution hopes that by allowing more women to share their stories, it will become clear to the court that Cosby practiced a pattern of criminal behavior. All five women will come forward at the next trial to share their accounts of how Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them.

More than 50 women have come forward with similar claims dating back to the 1980s of being sexually assaulted, drugged and raped by Cosby. 

This was a slight victory for District Attorney Kevin Steele, who had hoped to bring 19 accusers to court. Cosby's defense team did not want any additional witnesses against Cosby brought forth.

"The Commonwealth shall be permitted to present evidence regarding five prior bad acts of its choosing," O'Neill's two-page order said. "The balance of the Commonwealth's motion is DENIED." 

It has not been revealed which of the 19 women Steele hoped to bring forward to the court will be chosen, but the district attorney has until March 19 to submit an answer to the court. 

Although a member of Cosby's defense team recently said, "bringing in additional accusers – especially 19 of them – in that environment would be highly prejudicial” and unfair given the #MeToo movement, this week, Cosby spokesperson Andrew Wyatt said the move to bring additional witnesses is one of desperation.

"It shows (how) desperate they are and this is a very weak case," Wyatt told USA TODAY.

The next trial is scheduled for April 2 in Norristown, Pennsylvania; jury selection is to begin March 29.