The Jury In The Cosby Sexual Assault Trial Is Deadlocked
We haven’t really covered the Bill Cosby rape trial, because only so many palate-cleansing puppy videos exist on YouTube. But on June 5, a jury in Norristown, PA began hearing the criminal case against Bill Cosby. Like a thousand other women (I’m obviously underestimating that number), Andrea Constand, the former director of operations for Temple University’s women’s basketball team, accused Ole’ Sleazy Puddin’ Pop of drugging and sexually assaulting her at his mansion near Philadelphia in January 2004. Cosby was hit with three charges of aggravated indecent assault. The trial lasted six days and most of that was spent on the prosecution presenting their case. Cosby’s defense team only took six minutes to present their case and called one witness. I’m surprised they took six minutes. That seems like a long time. I would think they’d just tell the jury, “Now, do you really think that the beloved TV dad you grew up with would ever be guilty of something other than wearing wacky sweaters?!” Cosby didn’t testify.
CNN says that the jury started deliberating on Monday night and after spending a total of 31 hours trying to decide if he’s guilty or innocent, they shuffled into court today to shrug at the judge and let him know they are deadlocked.
The jury, which is made up of 5 women and 7 men, asked six questions during their 31 hours of trying to unanimously agree on a verdict. Two jurors asked to review what Cosby told authorities when he was interviewed about Andrea Constand’s accusation. Two other jurors wanted to hear Andrea Constand’s testimony again. They still can’t agree and today, Judge Steven T. O’Neill, told them to go back and try again, but before he did, he read them the Pennsylvania Standard Jury Instruction 2.09.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I remind you that in order to return a verdict on any charge you must agree unanimously on that specific charge. Each of you has a duty to consult with one another and to deliberate with a view to reaching an agreement if it can be done without violence to your individual judgment.
However, each of you must decide this case for yourself after an impartial consideration of the evidence with your fellow jurors. While you should not hesitate to reexamine 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 for the mere purpose of returning a verdict.
If the jury comes back and decides Cosby’s guilty, he faces up to 10 years for each charge. He’s 79 years old, so that would be a life sentence, pretty much. But it’s looking like it’s going to be a hung jury. Judge Steven will declare a mistrial if that happens. Before the jury showed up in the courtroom today, Cosby’s defense team asked for a mistrial to be declared. Judge Steven shat on that request.
This is bad, depressing news for many including Andrea Constand and the other women. But if a mistrial is declared and prosecutors decide to try him again, that’ll be good news for Keshia Knight Pulliam since she’ll get even more chances to shamelessly work the cameras in front of the courthouse (see: above).
Pic: Backgrid