Top Stories

Four days of deliberations in Cosby trial; still no verdict

By MARYCLAIRE DALE and MICHAEL R. SISAK, Associated Press
By MARYCLAIRE DALE and MICHAEL R. SISAK, Associated Press

NORRISTOWN, Pa. — 9:45 p.m. UPDATE: 

The jury has gone home after a fourth day of deliberations.

They are still unable to come up with a unanimous verdict.

Deliberations will continue Friday at 9 a.m.

5:15 p.m. UPDATE: 

The judge in Bill Cosby's case is making sure the jurors exhaust every option before declaring a mistrial.

While the jury works behind closed doors to reach a decision on Cosby's fate, emotions ran high outside the Montgomery County Courthouse.

Alleged victims and Cosby supporters clashed after the jury told the judge they're deadlocked on all three charges of sexual assault from an alleged incident with Andrea Constand in 2004.

"I'm very concerned it's going to be that -- deadlock," said Victoria Valentino, who is one of more than 60 women who has accused Cosby of sexual assault. With the jury now 35 hours into deliberations, she told Channel 11 her wait for justice is maddening.

"I know what he is, we all know what he is. We've been damaged by him in varying degrees," Valentino said.

As the hours pass, the possibility of a mistrial becomes more likely, but former prosecutor Dennis McAndrews said the judge will push the jury to make a unanimous decision before declaring a mistrial.

"It's very common for the judge to that 'dynamite charge' again and say,' You've got to give this another try,'" McAndrews said.

Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt also addressed the media, saying this is the justice they've been looking for, as the jury carefully studies this case.

11:40 a.m. UPDATE:

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Jurors in Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial have told a judge they're deadlocked on charges the comedian drugged and molested a woman in 2004.

PHOTOS: Bill Cosby Trial - Day 9 (June 15, 2017)

The panel from Allegheny County deliberated about 30 hours over four days before telling Judge Steven O'Neill on Thursday they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on any of the charges.

O'Neill sent them back to the jury room to keep talking.

Cosby is charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault.

His lawyer said Cosby and Andrea Constand were lovers sharing a consensual sexual encounter at his suburban Philadelphia home. Constand said Cosby gave her pills that made her woozy, then violated her.

Dozens of women have come forward to say he had drugged and assaulted them. This was the only case to result in criminal charges against Cosby.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - As deliberations in Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial continue into a fourth day Thursday, nerves are frayed, patience is shot and no one is certain when it will all end.

Some jurors appeared angry, the judge sounded exasperated and accuser Andrea Constand's mother broke down in tears Wednesday.

The sequestered jury has been at it for more than 27 hours since getting the case Monday, pausing a half-dozen times to revisit key evidence, including Cosby's decade-old admissions that he fondled Constand after giving her pills.

Judge Steven O'Neill seemed vexed at times as the court staff struggled to answer the jury's requests. One batch of requested testimony hadn't even been transcribed yet.

But when jurors asked to stop for the day Wednesday night, O'Neill was effusive with praise -- encouraging their diligence as they weigh charges that could put the 79-year-old Cosby in prison for the rest of his life.

RELATED CONTENT:

"This is an incredible jury that has just acted with incredible dignity and fidelity," O'Neill said. "I don't have any higher praise. You have taken your task so seriously."

Cosby is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Each carries a maximum 10-year prison term, though the counts could be merged at sentencing if he is convicted.

The case has already helped demolish his 'nice guy' reputation as America's Dad.

Cosby has wavered between stoic and smiling as he awaits his fate, but gave a brief thumbs up as jurors listened to a court reporter reread his January 2005 police interview.

In it, he claimed Constand showed no ill effects from the one and a half Benadryl pills he gave her to help her relax, and that she never objected to his behavior during the 2004 encounter at his suburban Philadelphia home.

Constand testified last week that she was paralyzed by the pills and unable to fight Cosby off. Her mother, Gianna Constand, pulled a cloth from her pocket to wipe away tears Wednesday as she listened to the testimony.

TRENDING NOW:

Cosby's lawyers maintain Constand was a willing sexual partner.

Some jurors closed their eyes and tilted their heads down as they listened to the police interview. One slunk down in his seat, looking angry.

"Can you find 12 people who will agree? That's the question," said criminal lawyer Alan J. Tauber, who wasn't involved in the case.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.

___

For more on Cosby, including trial updates, historical photos, videos and an audio series exploring the case, visit http://www.apnews.com/tag/CosbyonTrial.

 

Cox Media Group

0

Most Read