At least three of Bill Cosby's 60 accusers reacted Saturday in the immediate aftermath of the comedian's mistrial in his sexual assault trial.
Jurors deliberated more than 52 hours over six days before telling a judge they couldn't agree on whether "The Cosby Show" star drugged and molested Andrea Constand in 2004. The judge then declared a mistrial.
Linda Kirkpatrick, one of the women accusing Cosby of sexual assault, told CNN shortly after the mistrial the entire ordeal had forced those accusing the star to relive a horrible time in their lives.
"Rehearing testimony in this case is revictimization for everyone that's been the victim of sexual assault and rape. It's painful. It's raw. It's real," Kirkpatrick said. "We're not actors. We're real life people. This is our lives. But I'm incredibly hopeful hearing the district attorney saying he would retry this case. A mistrial is not a victory for either side. It's a nullification of this trial. So hope springs eternal."
Another Cosby accuser, Jewel Allison, also spoke to the media following the mistrial. Despite her disappointment over the outcome, Allison struck a hopeful note, saying she hoped bringing Cosby to trial would encourage other sexual assault victims to step forward.
"It is time to rape and violence to stop so that healing can start," Allison said. Lets walk together as one family to solve our differences peacefully, clearly we must work toward creating a peaceful egalitarian society. God is watching all of us."
Eden Tirl, a former actress who accuses Cosby of assaulting her in a dressing room while she worked on the Cosby Show, told NBC News: "This was also so much bigger than these 60 women. Anyone who has ever been hurt, or known someone hurt knows how difficult it is to come forward. But the very, very strange addition, or element, of dealing with celebrity and of his magnitude at the time -- no one seems to be able to wrap their minds around that."
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents both Allison and Kirkpatrick, warned the Cosby camp his accusers were far from finished.
"It's too early to celebrate, Mr. Cosby," she said. "Round two may be just around the corner. And this time, justice will prevail."
Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt said that mistrial shows charges should have never been brought forward. In a letter read outside court, Cosby's wife, Camille, called District Attorney Kevin Steel's actions in bringing charges "heinous" and also took shots at the media and judge.
Constand's attorneys released a statement following the mistrial, thanking both the jury and the prosecutors in the case.
"We are confident that these proceedings have given a voice to the many victims who felt powerless and silenced," the statement reads.
The lawyers appealed for privacy for Constand and her family.
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