Bill Cosby’s sexual assault trial comes to a screeching halt.
After deliberating for more than 52 hours – longer than the trial itself – on Friday, jurors informed the judge that they were unable to reach a verdict on any of the three counts of aggravated indecent assault, TMZ reports. The news comes on the heels of Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O’Neill attempting to pressure the jury into a verdict following deliberations that lasted a little over four days. “While you should not hesitate to re-examine your own views or change your opinion if your opinion is erroneous, do not feel compelled to surrender your honest belief. If after further deliberations, you are still deadlocked on some or all the charges, you should report that to me,” said Judge O’Neill. Still, on Saturday they announced that they were “hopelessly deadlocked.”
As previously reported, Cosby’s team initially requested a mistrial midweek, after jurors hit their first road block, following at least 12-hours of deliberations. Though, it was denied. “It’s simply inappropriate at this time … no matter how long it has been,” Judge O’Neill said at the time.
Meanwhile, the comedian, who is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault — for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in January 2004 at his home in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, to which he pleaded not guilty — is to be retried within four months, prosecutors vow.
In a recent interview with SiriusXM radio host Michael Smerconish, Cosby, 79, touched on the challenge he faces in shifting people’s perceptions toward him moving forward. “If a jury says so forth and so on, there’s still public opinion,” he said. “And if the jury comes for the other side of the so forth and so on, it’s still public opinion. So I think it’s something that you never will be able to satisfy all minds and all behaviors.”
He added: “I know the side that I’m on and the side that I’m hoping for.” As for whether he lost the support of his wife, Camille, he said, “Never, never.”
What are your thoughts on the mistrial? Is this a big win or more trouble to come for the comedian? Sound off in the comment section below.
