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A US judge has declared a mistrial in the Bill Cosby sex assault case after the jury remained deadlocked for days.
The seven men and five women were unable to reach a unanimous decision after some 53 hours of deliberations in Norristown, Pennsylvania, BBC reports.
Announcing the decision, Pennsylvania judge Steven O’Neill reminded Mr Cosby that he remains charged and on bail, despite the mistrial.
The comedian is free for now but could face new proceedings as the prosecution has already said they are pursuing a fresh trial.
Mr Cosby is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. His lawyers had argued the sex was consensual.
Dozens of women accuse him of assaulting them but statutes of limitation rules mean he was allowed to be tried for Ms Constand’s allegation only.
The 79-year-old veteran entertainer could have faced up to a decade in prison if found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault, which allegedly took place at his Philadelphia home 13 years ago.