Actor Danny Masterson's rape retrial sees deliberations drag on again

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Jurors have deliberated for more than a week without reaching a verdict in the rape trial of “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson, returning after a long holiday weekend of further talks. Have to start again.

A Los Angeles County jury of seven women and five men went home Friday with no verdict on any of the 47-year-old’s three counts of rape, all three of which could carry up to 45 years in prison if convicted.

The jury got the case as closing arguments ended on May 17. With the scheduled time, they’ve been talking for a total of 6 1/2 days and have relatively few questions for the judge. Jurors have asked to read back some testimony – including part of the cross-examination of Masterson’s ex-girlfriend, who is one of three accused. But the requests have shed little light on the status of the consultations.

Jurors will return to court on Wednesday morning after the weekend, Memorial Day and other scheduled days off.

At the actor’s first trial, long deliberations led to a mistrial in December, when jurors could not come to a consensus on either case. The majority voted to acquit them on each. A retrial began in April.

Prosecutors allege Masterson drugged three women, including a former longtime girlfriend, at his Hollywood-area home between 2001 and 2003, when he was at the height of his fame for the Fox TV sitcom “That ’70s Show.” and raped.

Masterson has pleaded not guilty. The defense stated that Masterson had consensual sex with the women, and attempted to discredit their stories by pointing out inconsistencies.