Cosby jury deadlocked after four days
The jury in the Bill Cosby sex assault trial reports it’s deadlock, and the judge asks jurors to keep deliberating to try and resolve the impasse.
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — On the fourth day of deliberations, the jury in the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial reported to the judge that they were deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict.
Judge Steven O’Neill asked the jurors to deliberate some more after hearing of the impasse.
It is unclear what is the central point of disagreement among the jurors. Andrea Constand, the woman who has accused Cosby of sexual assault, was composed and calm on the stand during her testimony last week, but the defense spent most of its time during cross-examination working to establish the inconsistencies and mistakes in her account.
They had been deliberating for roughly two hours Thursday — about 30 hours overall — when they reported after 11 a.m. that they were deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the three counts that have been filed against Cosby.
“We cannot reach unanimous consensus on any of the counts,” the note to O’Neill said.
In court, the judge then read a new charge to the jury and told them to go back and continue their deliberations.
“Each of you has a duty to consult with one another and to deliberate with a view to reaching an agreement,” he said.
“While you should not hesitate to re-examine your own views and change your opinion if you are convinced that your opinion is erroneous, do not feel compelled to surrender your honest belief as to the weight or effect of the evidence solely because of the opinion of your fellow jurors, or for the mere purpose of returning a verdict,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill’s action represented what is called under Pennsylvania law a “Spencer charge,” explaining what is acceptable in reaching consensus.
He said the jurors should report back to him as soon as they reach consensus on any of the three charges, even if they are still deadlocked on others.
Cosby is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault. The three counts are penetration without consent, penetration while unconscious and penetration after administering an intoxicant without the subject’s knowledge. Each count carries a sentence of up to 10 years.
The defense asked for a mistrial, but O’Neill denied the request.