The jury in the Bill Cosby sexual assault case sent word to the judge that they are hopelessly deadlocked on day 4 of deliberations, meaning they can not unanimously reach a verdict on three counts. The judge ordered the jury to continue deliberations, saying it is too early to quit.
The panel of five women and seven men are sequestered at a Norristown, Pa. hotel, about 300 miles away from their homes in Allegheny County. The trial was moved from Allegheny County to Norristown because of concerns about pretrial publicity.
The 79-year-old comedian faces 10 years in prison if he is convicted of plying Andrea Constandt with drugs and sexually assaulting her in 2004. The former Temple University women’s basketball coach is among 10 women who accuse the television mogul of rape.
In riveting testimony Constand claimed Cosby gave her three blue pills that made her fell dizzy. She said she passed out and when she awakened her clothes were in disarray.
But Cosby denied giving Constand a date rape drug. He said he only wanted to make her “feel comfortable” so he gave her a Benadryl.
“I wanted her to be comfortable and relaxed and be able to go to sleep after our necking session,” Cosby said in an earlier deposition.
Cosby’s defense rested on Monday after calling only one witness to testify on Cosby’s behalf. The defense later claimed they had a witness who was not permitted to testify.
In a sign of confidence, Cosby shouted his Fat Albert phrase “Hey, hey, hey!” when departing the courthouse on Tuesday.
Cosby’s wife Camille Cosby accompanied her husband to court on Monday. She has remained loyal to the Cosby Show star throughout his legal ordeal.
In related news, the White House confirmed Cosby will not be stripped of his Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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