Copperfield has won a delay in a sexual assault case filed against him by a former beauty queen. A federal judge in the U.S. has granted a six-month suspension in the civil lawsuit filed by the unidentified former Miss Washington contestant, who has accused the magician of sexually assaulting her when she stayed on his private island in the Bahamas in 2007.

Copperfield has denied sexual assault, branding the woman's lawsuit "extortion for money".

The illusionist's legal team requested the stay to give authorities at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle, Washington more time to finish a criminal investigation into the woman's allegations, according to the Seattle Times.

Prosecutors have almost completed the investigation and will decide whether to file criminal charges within the next six months. The case will return to court in March (10). (PAW/WNWCSEA/LR)

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