Jury in Cosby case tests judge’s patience
No verdict reached after five days of deliberations
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — The jury in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case ended a fifth day of deliberations Friday without reaching a verdict, testing the patience of defense lawyers and even the judge as it struggled to break a deadlock by making repeated runs through testimony given by the TV star, his accuser and others.
With deliberations passing the 50-hour mark, longer than the testimony of all the witnesses combined, the 79-year-old TV star’s lawyer complained that jurors were seeking a replay of the entire trial. Lawyer Brian Mcmonagle also worried that some jurors might compromise “their views and their values” for the sake of reaching a unanimous decision.
“I believe this jury is tired, is weary,” Mcmonagle said late Friday, as the jury wrapped up yet another marathon round of deliberations. “I believe they are being compelled to come back with a verdict.”
Judge Steven O’neill pushed back on repeated defense requests for a mistrial, declaring that jurors could talk as long as they wanted over allegations that Cosby drugged and molested a woman at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004. The judge had instructed the panel to keep deliberating after it reported Thursday it was deadlocked on the charges against the comedian.
“It’s incredibly important to these jurors,” the judge said. “I’m sorry it’s causing everyone frustration, but the law requires that I allow a deliberating jury to continue to deliberate.”
As jurors broke for the night, he praised them for their “hard work, dedication, fidelity to your oath.”
Yet even he had his limits, putting his foot down Friday when the jurors asked to hear a sliver of testimony they’d just had read back to them. He told them they had to rely on their collective memory.
Jurors will get back to work Saturday morning.
As they deliberated charges that could send him to prison for the rest of his life, Cosby tweeted thanks to his fans and supporters. The entertainer, once known as America’s Dad, offered Father’s Day greetings to well-wishers outside the courthouse after the jury adjourned.