Two holdouts in Cosby trial refused to convict, juror says

NORRISTOWN, Pa. — After 52 hours of tense deliberations, two holdouts in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault trial refused to convict the 79-year-old comedian, a juror told ABC News.

The juror, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said 10 of the 12 jurors agreed that Cosby was guilty on the first and third felony counts. And only one of the jurors thought he was guilty on the second count.

The two holdouts were “not moving, no matter what,” the juror told the network.

Jurors initially voted overwhelmingly to acquit Cosby on all three counts of aggravated indecent assault, the juror said.

Andrea Constand testified that Cosby drugged and molested her at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. Cosby said the encounter with the former director of women’s basketball operations at his alma mater, Temple University, was consensual.

ABC published the interview with the juror Wednesday after Judge Steven O’Neill ordered the public release of the jurors’ names, granting a request by a dozen media organizations.

The juror who spoke to ABC said emotions were high as deliberations wore on in a cramped back room. The jury was selected from the Pittsburgh area and spent two weeks sequestered 482 kilometres from home.

According to the juror who spoke to ABC, the majority of jurors wanted to convict Cosby on counts alleging he lacked consent when he penetrated Constand’s genitals with his fingers and that he gave her an intoxicant that substantially impaired her and stopped her from resisting.

The jury reported a deadlock after about 30 hours of deliberations over four days, but kept trying after O’Neill read what’s known as a “dynamite” charge. O’Neill declared a mistrial on Saturday. The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done.