Judge Declares Mistrial in Bill Cosby Sex Assault Trial

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Category: World News

Published on Saturday, 17 June 2017 09:03

Written by Janet Walker

After more than 50 hours of deliberation the jury in the Bill Cosby aggravated sexual assault trail remained deadlocked, even as they were ordered to return and continue to deliberate they came back today, Saturday, and remained deadlocked.

Judge Steven O'Neill declared the mistrial as the jury, who deliberated more than five days and requested several key pieces of information, were unable to come to a unanimous decision, necessary for a guilty verdict, in one of the three charges of felony aggravated indecent assault.

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District Attorney Kevin Steele, who has not had a deadlocked case since 1992, held a press conference and issued stated the following, "Even as we are disappointed in jury we appreciate the extra sacrifice coming all the way from Pittsburgh. This has been a long process to get to this point, overcoming obstacles, a number of legal maneuver stop or delay. We got to try our case could testify in a court of law, we will evaluate and review, take a hard look and we will retry it. Our plan is to move this case forward as soon as possible."

He indicated he remains committed to securing a criminal conviction for the victim and while the stature of limitations has been the issue in the majority of the sexual assault allegations against the 79-year-old actor, who has been accused by more than 61 women, over thirty years, in Pennsylvania the lengthy statues allowed the prosecutors to file.

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The odds of occurrence, with each women unknown to the others, until the story broke in which created an avalanche of victims replaying the same sordid action. The females would be alone with the once powerful and lucrative actor, for a variety of reasons from assisting with character development during The Cosby Show to philanthropic document delivery or any number of issues, when he would prepare a drink for them and as he admitted in deposition dissolve Quaalude's into their drink to render them incapacitated and unable to resist. He then would rape the women.

Cosby has admitted to using what he called "his friends" as he referred to the drugs and also admitted to obtaining seven prescriptions from a Los Angeles doctor for Quaalude's. The prescription grade pharmaceutical acts to suppress the central nervous system. The effect of ingesting a Quaalude, which is very similar to the modern Date Rape drugs, GHB, Rohyphol, and according to the US Department of Health, "the drug most commonly used to help commit sexual assault."

Prosecutor Kevin Steele spoke on the strength of this case for sexual assault victims who often do not come forward when "An intoxicant is used and a victim does not have a clear memory of what went on. Victims of these types of crime can come forward and can be heard and will have prosecutors and investigators and treat them with the respect they deserve. Standing up for sexual assault victims."

The week-long trial, came after Cosby was arrested in December 2015 and posted a $1 million dollar bond, detailed the allegations by the victim which occurred in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. The victim* testified for a total of seven hours; Cosby did not take the stand.

Cosby's defense team, led by Brian McMonagle, repeatedly badgered the Judge with repeated demands for a mistrial, to which the judge admonished while the jury deliberates by law we are obligated to allow them.

By Saturday 10:00 EST, the jury would had been ordered to return to the deliberating room for an unexpected sixth day, sent a message to the judge they hopelessly deadlocked.

Judge Steven O'Neill is expected to remain the judge on the new trial. He has indicated he expects to move forward with the new date placed on the calendar within 120 days. By law the prosecutor has 365 to initiate proceedings.

*It is the policy of this publication not to print the names of sexual assault victims whether or not they are known, have made themselves known or have been named, with permission, by prosecutors.