The judge overseeing the Bill Cosby sexual assault case declared a mistrial on Saturday after the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked.
The hung jury means that Cosby can go free for now, but the prosecution immediately said it will retry Cosby.
The jury, made up of five women and seven men, told Judge Stephen O’Neill on Thursday that it was deadlocked and couldn’t come to a decision on whether Cosby was guilty on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby’s defense lawyers asked for a mistrial then, but O’Neill sent the jury back to continue deliberations.
By Saturday, after six days of jury deliberation, apparently nothing had changed.
Cosby has been accused of sexual assault by dozens of women, and in this case, Andrea Constand, a former Temple University official, accused Cosby of drugging her and sexually assaulting her in 2004. But the jury apparently couldn’t decide whether it believed her.
Judge to attorneys on both sides: “This is simply a nullity, it is not a victory for either side.” #CosbyTrial
— Dana DiFilippo (@DanaDiFilippo) June 17, 2017
Judge tells Cosby: You remain charged and remain on bail for the same three charges of aggravated indecent assault
— Laura McCrystal (@LMcCrystal) June 17, 2017
Other Cosby accusers comforting Constand
— Jeremy Roebuck (@jeremyrroebuck) June 17, 2017
Calm as always, Constand lingers behind in the courtroom comforting other crying Cosby accusers, who gathered to thank her for “her bravery”
— Jeremy Roebuck (@jeremyrroebuck) June 17, 2017
According to Cosby’s spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, the comedian’s “power is back.” He also said the prosecuting lawyers, including Gloria Allred, should go back to law school and “take another class.”
Cosby’s publicist Andrew Wyatt: “Mr. Cosby’s power is back. It’s back. He has been restored.” https://t.co/rAB76WbyHJ
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 17, 2017
And here’s what Cosby’s wife had to say.
Statement from Camille Cosby: pic.twitter.com/vnCfRVI9ej
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 17, 2017
Cosby didn’t testify on his own behalf in the trial, but he did have something to say when leaving the courtroom on Friday.
“I just want to wish all of the fathers a Happy Father’s Day and I want to thank all of the jury for their long days, their honest work individually,” Cosby said, via CNN. “ … I also want to thank the supporters who’ve been here and please to the supporters, stay calm, do not argue with people, just keep up the great support. Thank you all. Thank you.”
