Bill Cosby judge declares a mistrial in his sexual assault case after the jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked
Jurors were unable to reach a verdict
THE judge in the Bill Cosby sexual assault case has declared a mistrial after the jury said it was "hopelessly deadlocked".
Mr Cosby was a famous face on American television during the 1980s, however he was recently put on trial accused of drugging and molesting a female friend at his suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004.
But today the judge in the case declared a mistrial, with the prosecution insisting that they will push for a retrial.
The move amounts to a victory of sorts for the 79-year-old actor, who had faced spending the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
He was accused of incapacitating Temple University employee Andrea Constand with blue pills more than 10 years ago, and then molesting her while she drifted in and out of consciousness.
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The comedian claimed the encounter was consensual and has always denied any wrongdoing.
In May 2016 District Judge Elizabeth McHugh ruled there was sufficient evidence to bring Cosby to trial after dozens of women raised similar claims and a sealed deposition in a 2006 civil lawsuit brought by Constand — now a massage therapist in Toronto — was made public.
In the deposition Cosby admitted giving Constand pills.
He settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum after testifying about his extramarital affairs, his use of sedative drug Quaaludes to seduce women and his efforts to hide payments to former lovers from his wife.
Cosby was charged with aggravated sexual assault on December 30, 2015, just days before the 12-year statute of limitations would have run out over a 2004 encounter at his estate near Philadelphia.
His case had been reopened after dozens of women came forward with similar accusations.
At a hearing in December, the defence portrayed the potential prosecution witnesses as "bandwagon" accusers who came forward because they sought to cash in on Cosby's fame and wealth.
The actor was free before today's mistrial announcement on a $1million bail after pleading not guilty.