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| Jury in Bill Cosby Trial Reports It Is Deadlocked | Jury in Bill Cosby Trial Reports It Is Deadlocked |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| • The jury ended a fourth day of deliberations Thursday in the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial without a verdict. The panel worked into the night after reporting to the judge in the morning that they were deadlocked. | |
| • Judge Steven T. O’Neill asked the jurors to try to come back Friday to deliberate some more and see if there is still progress that can be made. | • Judge Steven T. O’Neill asked the jurors to try to come back Friday to deliberate some more and see if there is still progress that can be made. |
| • It’s unclear what is the central point of disagreement among the jurors. Andrea Constand, the woman who has accused Mr. Cosby of sexual assault, was composed and calm on the stand during her testimony last week, but the defense spent most of its time during cross-examination working to establish the inconsistencies and mistakes in her account. | • It’s unclear what is the central point of disagreement among the jurors. Andrea Constand, the woman who has accused Mr. Cosby of sexual assault, was composed and calm on the stand during her testimony last week, but the defense spent most of its time during cross-examination working to establish the inconsistencies and mistakes in her account. |
| “We can only imagine the emotional and physical toll that this has taken on the jurors,” Andrew Wyatt, Mr. Cosby’s spokesman said on Thursday night. “We’re just hoping that the judge, if they don’t have a verdict by now, would release them and just say this thing is a deadlock.” | |
| Gloria Allred, a lawyer who represents some of the other women who have accused Mr. Cosby of assaulting them as well, said the justice system is not set up like that. | |
| “He needs to understand,” she said, “that there is no time limit.” | |
| They had been deliberating for roughly two hours on Thursday — about 30 hours overall — when they reported they were deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the three counts that have been filed against Mr. Cosby. | They had been deliberating for roughly two hours on Thursday — about 30 hours overall — when they reported they were deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the three counts that have been filed against Mr. Cosby. |
| “We cannot reach unanimous consensus on any of the counts,” the note to Judge O’Neill said. | “We cannot reach unanimous consensus on any of the counts,” the note to Judge O’Neill said. |
| In court, the judge then read a new charge to the jury and told them to go back and continue their deliberations. | In court, the judge then read a new charge to the jury and told them to go back and continue their deliberations. |
| “Each of you has a duty to consult with one another and to deliberate with a view to reaching an agreement,” he said. | “Each of you has a duty to consult with one another and to deliberate with a view to reaching an agreement,” he said. |
| “While you should not hesitate to re-examine 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, or for the mere purpose of returning a verdict,” Judge O’Neill said. | “While you should not hesitate to re-examine 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, or for the mere purpose of returning a verdict,” Judge O’Neill said. |
| Judge O’Neill’s action represented what is called under Pennsylvania law a “Spencer charge,” explaining what is acceptable in reaching consensus, and instructing them to keep trying, with open minds but without giving up firmly held convictions. | Judge O’Neill’s action represented what is called under Pennsylvania law a “Spencer charge,” explaining what is acceptable in reaching consensus, and instructing them to keep trying, with open minds but without giving up firmly held convictions. |
| He said the jurors should report back to him as soon as they reach consensus on any of the three charges, even if they are still deadlocked on others. | He said the jurors should report back to him as soon as they reach consensus on any of the three charges, even if they are still deadlocked on others. |
| Mr. Cosby is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault. The three counts are penetration without consent; penetration while unconscious; and penetration after administering an intoxicant without the subject’s knowledge. Each count carries a sentence of up to 10 years. | Mr. Cosby is charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault. The three counts are penetration without consent; penetration while unconscious; and penetration after administering an intoxicant without the subject’s knowledge. Each count carries a sentence of up to 10 years. |
| The defense asked for a mistrial, but Judge O’Neill denied the request. | The defense asked for a mistrial, but Judge O’Neill denied the request. |
| The scene outside the courthouse turned raucous Thursday as people played to the assembled media and a pair of drummers wearing plastic masks — who did not seem to have a side — pounded out rhythms, contributing to a carnival atmosphere. | The scene outside the courthouse turned raucous Thursday as people played to the assembled media and a pair of drummers wearing plastic masks — who did not seem to have a side — pounded out rhythms, contributing to a carnival atmosphere. |
| A contingent of a half dozen Cosby backers — more than on previous days — chanted slogans on his behalf. Some waved signs with messages including “there is no rape, she consented.” | A contingent of a half dozen Cosby backers — more than on previous days — chanted slogans on his behalf. Some waved signs with messages including “there is no rape, she consented.” |
| Zaria Tuck, 27, a nurse from Philadelphia, said it was her first trip to Norristown to join the demonstrators. “Mr. Cosby needs someone who looks like him to support him,” said Ms. Tuck, who is black. | Zaria Tuck, 27, a nurse from Philadelphia, said it was her first trip to Norristown to join the demonstrators. “Mr. Cosby needs someone who looks like him to support him,” said Ms. Tuck, who is black. |
| As they have throughout the trial, a handful of Mr. Cosby’s accusers came to the courthouse, too, along with some of the lawyers who have represented them. One of them, Lili Bernard, read aloud a Bible verse, Ephesians 6, which speaks of wearing “the full armor of God” to protect against evil. | As they have throughout the trial, a handful of Mr. Cosby’s accusers came to the courthouse, too, along with some of the lawyers who have represented them. One of them, Lili Bernard, read aloud a Bible verse, Ephesians 6, which speaks of wearing “the full armor of God” to protect against evil. |
| For the first time since the trial began, sheriff’s deputies fenced off a portion of the courthouse steps to ensure that the crowd outside did not block access to the building. | For the first time since the trial began, sheriff’s deputies fenced off a portion of the courthouse steps to ensure that the crowd outside did not block access to the building. |
| At 2:01 p.m., she sent out a 25-second video of herself shooting a small basketball in a hallway. Ms. Constand, a former point guard who played in college, takes the shot to the accompaniment of “Sweet Georgia Brown,” the theme song for the Harlem Globetrotters. Her move was an apparent reference to Mr. Cosby, an honorary Globetrotter who signed a “lifetime” contract for $1 a year in 1972. At the end of the video, Ms. Constand, who met Mr. Cosby when she was the director of basketball operations for the Temple University women’s basketball team, superimposed a message, in all capital letters: “ALWAYS FOLLOW THROUGH.” | At 2:01 p.m., she sent out a 25-second video of herself shooting a small basketball in a hallway. Ms. Constand, a former point guard who played in college, takes the shot to the accompaniment of “Sweet Georgia Brown,” the theme song for the Harlem Globetrotters. Her move was an apparent reference to Mr. Cosby, an honorary Globetrotter who signed a “lifetime” contract for $1 a year in 1972. At the end of the video, Ms. Constand, who met Mr. Cosby when she was the director of basketball operations for the Temple University women’s basketball team, superimposed a message, in all capital letters: “ALWAYS FOLLOW THROUGH.” |
| Mr. Cosby, meanwhile, is waiting for the jury’s deliberations to end in a room in the courthouse, often resting in a chair and laying his head on a pillow placed on a desk, his spokesman Andrew Wyatt said. | Mr. Cosby, meanwhile, is waiting for the jury’s deliberations to end in a room in the courthouse, often resting in a chair and laying his head on a pillow placed on a desk, his spokesman Andrew Wyatt said. |
| He described Mr. Cosby’s spirits as “as well as can be expected.” | He described Mr. Cosby’s spirits as “as well as can be expected.” |