Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Trial Judge Declares Mistrial
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS/AP) — A judge declared mistrial in Bill Cosby's sexual assault case after jury says it's hopelessly deadlocked.
Bill Cosby's lawyer had repeatedly demanded a mistrial as the talks wore on without a verdict, but the judge said there was no precedent to send the jury home.
"I have no authority to do this," Judge Steven O'Neill said in the 52nd hour of deliberations Friday night. "I'm sorry it's causing everyone frustration."
But on Saturday morning, jurors informed O'Neill they were "deadlocked on all counts." When O'Neill asked the jury if they were "hopeless[ly] deadlocked," each member stood and affirmed that they were, CBS News reported.
"I feel bad for all of you. I really do," the judge said in thanking the jurors for their service.
"Mr. Cosby's power is back. It's back. It has been restored," Bill Cosby's spokesperson said, according to CBS News.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said he will immediately begin working to retry the case.
"We will evaluate and review our case. We will take a hard look at everything involved, and then we will retry it," Steele said at a press conference Saturday morning. "As I said in court, our plan is to move this case forward as soon as possible."
Cosby, 79, is accused of drugging and molesting a Temple University employee in 2004 at his home near Philadelphia. Cosby's lawyers have said he and Andrea Constand were lovers sharing a consensual sexual encounter.
"We can never underestimate the blinding power of celebrity," Gloria Allred, an attorney for many of Cosby's accusers, said. "But justice will come... It's too early to celebrate, Mr. Cosby."
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
