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On Wednesday, May 31, a 12-member jury devoted over six days to deliberate the trial of actor Danny Masterson in Los Angeles, eventually reaching a verdict. Prosecutors confirmed that the jury found Masterson guilty of raping two women in 2003.
Throughout the trial, Danny Masterson vehemently denied the allegations, consistently maintaining that all sexual encounters were consensual. By his side, offering unwavering support, stood his wife, Bijou Phillips, 43, with whom he shares a daughter. However, when the verdict was finally announced, a highly charged and heartrending scene unfolded in the courtroom. Reports from the Daily Mail recounted Bijou Phillips collapsing in tears as her husband was handcuffed. Judge Charlene Olmedo, seeking to console Phillips, advised her to compose herself or, if necessary, to temporarily leave the courtroom.
In relation to the allegations of rape by another woman, the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision, leading to the announcement of the verdict being postponed until early August. The prosecution revealed that Danny Masterson could potentially face a sentence ranging from 30 years to life imprisonment.
This trial marked the actor's second legal proceeding, as the previous criminal trial in November concluded without a verdict. The 12 jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision, prompting the presiding judge to declare a mistrial. However, undeterred, the prosecution tenaciously reopened the case, persisting with renewed charges that ultimately resulted in Masterson's recent conviction.
The trial garnered significant attention due to Masterson's prominence as an actor and the seriousness of the allegations against him. The verdict serves as a critical moment in the ongoing reckoning surrounding sexual assault and misconduct in the entertainment industry.
As the sentencing phase approaches, the court will consider various factors, including the gravity of the crimes committed and any mitigating circumstances presented by the defense. Masterson now faces the potential consequences of his actions, and the future of his personal and professional life remains uncertain as the legal process unfolds.