Mistrial declared in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case — but retrial planned

The jury deliberating on legendary comedian Bill Cosby’s sexual assault trial says it arrived at an impasse.

Members of the jury were unable to reach a verdict on any of the three sexual assault counts after deliberating for more than five days.

The judge pressured them to reach a decision by not allowing them to throw in the towel until 9:30pm.

On Saturday, they informed the judge that they were “hopelessly deadlocked”.

The comedian was reportedly stoic, devoid of emotions, as the judge declared a mistrial.

Cosby, 79, is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.

The jury began deliberating Cosby’s fate late on June 12, following a six-day trial in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Approximately 60 other women have made similar allegations against the former star of the hit 1980s TV comedy “The Cosby Show,” but only Constand’s accusation is recent enough to allow for criminal prosecution.

Cosby has denied all of the accusations, saying any sex with the women was consensual, adding that racism played a part in the series of sexual assault allegations made against him.

Prosecutors vow to re-try Cosby within 4 months.

Cosby did not testify during the trial, but prosecutors introduced his account of the incident through sworn depositions he gave in 2005 and 2006.

The depositions were given during a civil lawsuit filed by Constand, a former administrator of the women’s basketball team at Cosby’s alma mater Temple University.

The jurors have re-examined both Cosby’s and Constand’s versions of the night in question, with particular focus on the pills that he gave her before the sexual encounter began.

Constand testified that the pills, which she said Cosby suggested were herbal, left her disoriented and unable to resist him.

The comedian said in depositions that he gave her the common allergy medication Benadryl – calling the pills her “friends” without disclosing their substance – and insisted the encounter was consensual.