2 jurors in Danny Masterson rape trial dismissed due to COVID; deliberations to restart
Judge orders state to pay for jurors in former New Jersey Supreme Court justice Masterson’s rape trial dismissed because of COVID-19
Judge: State must pay for jurors due to coronavirus, not trial
Masterson was not indicted for his alleged rape of a woman in 2008.
Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday after the trial’s dismissal that the victim’s credibility was questioned by the public and by prosecutors during the case.
“There was a reason why she chose not to testify at the trial. We respect that,” Murphy said. “We can and we will continue to respect the victim and her life that has been directly affected by this injustice.”
Murphy issued a statement praising police who brought the woman’s rape claim forward after she was attacked.
Cases in the United States of rape have skyrocketed as coronavirus restrictions are lifted, according to CNN.
The New Jersey Supreme Court will continue to review the dismissal of the case, according to the order released Monday.
Masterson is charged with first-degree sexual assault for his alleged rape that happened in May 2008.
His trial in Camden County ended with a hung jury in May.
The case was first opened in June 2017. Judge Thomas Cleary Jr. dismissed the case when the jurors could not decide on guilt.
A third-party jury was empaneled last July. They also failed to reach a unanimous decision as to guilt.
Masterson had been scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 5 for an additional hearing on an attorney’s motion to dismiss the case, but the hearing was canceled after the court’s order to close the court for the rest of the pandemic.
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal had previously asked the courts to dismiss the case after the jurors failed to reach a decision.
Grewal had also questioned the credibility of the woman who testified on Masterson’s behalf.
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