Temporary Victory
Bill Cosby exits the Montgomery County Courthouse after a mistrial was declared in Norristown, Pa., Saturday, June 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Actor and comedian, Bill Cosby, spent Father’s Day at home with his family, after the jury was unable to reach a verdict. After 52 painstaking hours of deliberation, the jury announced to the judge on Saturday, that they could not agree on Cosby’s guilt or innocence. While Cosby celebrated the mistrial as a victory, his joy is likely to be short-lived.
District attorney, Kevin Steele, has vowed to try the 79-year old Cosby a second time, positing that his accuser, Andrea Constand, deserves justice. “She has shown such courage through this, and we are in awe of what she has done,” Steele said. “She’s entitled to a verdict in this case.”
Meanwhile Cosby’s wife Camille, who was not in attendance, issued a statement slamming the prosecutor for bringing the case to court saying that Steele was “heinously and exploitively ambitious.” Mrs. Cosby also had some choice words for Judge Steven O’Neill. “How do I describe the judge? Overtly arrogant, collaborating with the district attorney,” she said.
Camille Cosby (Photo credit: ABC 11)
Constand, who accused Cosby of drugging her with pills then sexually assaulting her, also appeared undeterred by the jury’s decision. “She’s a very spiritual woman, she believes things happen for a purpose, and I think the purpose is … it should encourage other women to come forward and have their day in court,” said her lawyer, Dolores Troiani.
Cosby spokesman, Andrew Wyatt, saw the outcome differently saying the star’s “power is back.” Although, that seems to be only a matter of opinion at this point. Cosby appeared almost stoic as the judge declared a mistrial. He offered no comments to the media, and his only post on social media was the sharing of his wife’s statement about the judge and prosecutor.
The jurors were visibly upset on Saturday, one of them wiping away tears. Judge O’Neill attempted to comfort them and expressed his admiration for their service calling their efforts “one of the more courageous acts, one of the more selfless acts that I’ve seen in the justice system. … I feel bad for all of you, I really do.”
There has been no decision on a new trial date.
