UPDATED: Mistrial is declared in sexual-assault trial of entertainer Bill Cosby

[forgotmylogin]

23. Remember the jury cannot look at what's not presented to them.

That's why it can be hard to seat a jury in well-publicized cases who haven't already made up their mind.

They heard from the defendant, and the judge allowed only one other victim to testify. I'm not certain if the jurors "didn't know" about how many women accused him, or may have been instructed to disregard that in their deliberation.

The prosecution can have a 2 hour taped confession of the defendant admitting up and down they are guilty and describing exactly how they killed the victim, but if that tape was obtained illegally somehow and declared inadmissible by the judge...the prosecution cannot present it to the jury and they won't hear it. That's why the defense will find any grounds they can to throw out evidence or testimony that convicts their client.