Jury deadlocked, mistrial declared in Danny Masterson rape trial | 24CA News
A decide declared a mistrial Wednesday on the rape trial of That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson after jurors, who have been leaning strongly towards acquitting him, have been deadlocked following the month-long trial during which the Church of Scientology performed a supporting function.
Masterson, 46, was charged in Los Angeles Superior Court with the rape of three ladies, together with a former girlfriend, in his Hollywood Hills dwelling between 2001 and 2003. He pleaded not responsible and his lawyer stated the acts have been all consensual. All three ladies have been members of the church on the time, and Masterson stays one.
“I find the jurors hopelessly deadlocked,” Judge Charlaine Olmedo declared after inquiring whether or not there was something the court docket may do to maneuver them nearer to reaching a unanimous resolution. She set a March date for a retrial.
Olmedo had ordered jurors to take Thanksgiving week off and maintain deliberating after they stated on Nov. 18 that they may not attain a consensus. The jury started deliberations anew Monday after two alternates changed jurors who had COVID-19.
Jurors stated that they had voted seven instances Tuesday and Wednesday with out with the ability to attain consensus on any of the three counts.
The jury foreman stated solely two jurors voted for conviction on the primary depend, 4 voted for conviction on the second depend and 5 voted to convict on the third depend.
The end result was a severe setback for prosecutors, and for the three ladies who stated they have been looking for lengthy overdue justice.
Two of the alleged victims within the case issued an announcement saying they have been disenchanted “Masterson has evaded criminal accountability for his deplorable acts. However, we are collectively resolved to continue our fight for justice.”
Two of the ladies and the husband of 1 are suing Masterson, the Church of Scientology, its chief David Miscavige and others for allegedly stalking, harassing and intimidating them after they sought to show Masterson.
Masterson left court docket along with his spouse, actor and mannequin Bijou Phillips, with out chatting with reporters.
The proceedings came about amid a flurry of circumstances on each coasts with #MeToo connotations, together with the Los Angeles trial of Harvey Weinstein simply down the corridor from Masterson’s. In New York, Kevin Spacey received a sexual misconduct conduct lawsuit introduced by actor Anthony Rapp in New York, and a jury ordered director and screenwriter Paul Haggis to pay $10 million US in a civil case there.
But on the Masterson trial, as on the Haggis trial, the #MeToo implications have been largely eclipsed by Scientology, regardless of the decide’s insistence that the church not grow to be a de facto defendant.
Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller stated the church had tried to silence the ladies and that was the explanation it took twenty years for the case to get to trial.
Masterson lawyer Philip Cohen stated the church was talked about 700 instances throughout trial and argued that it grew to become an excuse for the prosecution’s failure to construct a plausible case in opposition to Masterson, a outstanding Scientologist.
Cohen stated he would file a movement to dismiss the case, primarily based on the best way the jury voted. He stated jurors supplied extra insights after the mistrial ruling that have been useful however would not talk about what they informed him.
