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'Mistrial doesn't mean innocent': Internet furious after Danny Masterson's rape case ruled a mistrial

Danny Masterson's defense attorneys contended that the three accusers had altered their statements over time and questioned their intent and character

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The jury in the Danny Masterson rape case was unable to agree on the actor's guilt or innocence, leading the judge to proclaim the case to be a mistrial on Wednesday, November 30. The 46-year-old Masterson was accused of three charges of forcible rape stemming from occurrences that took place between 2001 and 2003, which included three accusers.

Jurors heard testimony throughout the five-week trial, but as it was deemed a mistrial, the prosecution will have until March 2023 to decide whether or not to retry Masterson. The victims, who were followers of Scientology at the time of the occurrences, testified about their feelings of dread and isolation when it came to coming forward with information about Masterson, a prominent Church member. The alleged victims also asserted that their religious beliefs at the time prevented them from understanding the events as rape.

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Masterson's defense attorneys contended that the three accusers had altered their statements over time and questioned the intent and character of the alleged victims. Philip Cohen, one of the defense attorneys, said that despite repeated warnings from Los Angeles Police Department investigators, the three accusers had already "contaminated" the case by speaking with one another and discussing their experiences with Masterson.

Cohen also questioned them while they were on the stand, which drove the accusers to make contradictory statements. During the trial, Masterson did not take the witness stand. Cohen said that although the prosecution painted his client as a "commanding scary, abusive monster," his ex-girlfriend had testified that she willingly had sex with him after her alleged rape.

"The key to this case is not when they reported it," Cohen said in his closing remarks, calling the accusers' claims "contradictions and fabrications." He continued, "It's what they said when they reported it, what they said after they reported it and what they said at trial."

Furthermore, Cohen asserted that Scientology had been utilized as a scapegoat, saying, "We've heard Scientology over and over again — so much so, it became the go-to excuse. When someone didn't remember something or someone got contradicted, it became about Scientology."

Many individuals online have undoubtedly been disappointed by the declaration of the mistrial, with one stating, "This Danny Masterson news is disturbing. A true miscavige of justice." The tweet from someone else read, "F**k Danny Masterson A mistrial doesn't mean innocent."

A third person wrote, "So danny masterson just gets to walk around free because its a mistrial and this won't be retried till MARCH?? as a SA victim this is so disappointing, i just have a bad feeling in march he's gonna be found not guilty i hate the justice system #DannyMastersonTrial"

"Well to say i am disappointed is an understatement for the Danny Masterson rape trial for them to not get one guilty verdict regarding three different women is weird. They were all at one point Members of the Church Of Scientology, he still is. He is a c**t in a cult!" a disappointed person wrote.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.