The jurors in Bill Cosby’s sexual abuse trial must restart their deliberations despite nearly coming to a decision after two days of discussion due to the departure of one juror.
The jurors had begun deliberations on Thursday after the conclusion of the two-week trial in which Cosby faced allegations of sexual abuse. Despite coming to an agreement on eight of the nine questions on their verdict form by Friday evening, the jury was unexpectedly adjourned and rushed out of the courthouse at 4:30 p.m., with the courthouse noting it had to be closed due to a tight budget that didn’t allow for deputies’ overtime.
BILL COSBY SEXUAL ASSAULT CIVIL TRIAL BEGINS
But instead of reconvening on Monday to hand over their already-made decisions, the jury will have to restart their deliberations completely because one juror won’t be returning.
Judge Craig Karlan, who is presiding over the case, had promised one juror before she was seated that she could leave after Friday due to a prior commitment. Karlan said he would hold up his agreement.
“I won’t go back on my word,” Karlan said.
As a result, the jury must reconvene on Friday with an alternate in her place.
Before being dismissed, the jury was set to hand over its decision on eight of the nine questions on the verdict form. The final question dealt with whether Cosby’s actions required punitive damages.
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The civil case was filed in 2014 after actress Judy Huth accused Cosby of sexually assaulting her at the Playboy Mansion in 1974 when she was 16 years old. Cosby denied the allegations.
The former actor and comedian was released from prison in 2021 after being convicted in another sexual assault case brought by accuser Andrea Constand. His conviction was later thrown out by a judge due to a negotiated deal between him and a district attorney from Pennsylvania wherein he would offer testimony in civil proceedings in exchange for prosecutors forgoing criminal charges.
