Posted June 16, 2017 06:41:45

At 11:06am local time on Thursday, the seven men and five women that make up Bill Cosby's jury reported they had not been able to reach a consensus on any of the charges.

A defence motion for a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury was dismissed and the jury ordered back to the deliberation room they have called home for four days. Mayhem ensued.

Reporters rushed outside to file the news and I think it's the first time I've had an elderly lady try and shoulder barge me as she rushed to be first to tweet.

It got even weirder outside.

Photo: Cosby's supporter Garvey said the trial was all about race. (ABC News: Conor Duffy)

With various civil trials against Cosby planned or underway, a battle for hearts and minds has been fought outside court.

There were duelling press conferences. Then Cosby's supporters and protesters screamed at each other outside on the steps of the Montgomery County Court House.

A number of pro-Cosby supporters turned out with colourful signs. One, who would only give his first name as Garvey, said this was about race — a number of Cosby's accusers are black.

After trying to shout down the Cosby accusers they appeared to be gaining the upper hand when a sexual abuse supporters group drowned them out.

They literally sent drummers with people waving placards and blowing bubbles marching around the court house.

Dozens and dozens of women have accused Cosby of sexual assault, many in very similar ways to that of his criminal accuser, Andrea Constand.

They allege a pattern of gaining women's trust by mentoring them then drugging and sexually assaulting them.

Cosby's team have painted his accusers as money-grubbing liars who are taking advantage of his infidelities.

The jury is shielded from all of this drama.

They are what is called a sequestered jury, meaning its access to communications and media is strictly monitored.

These seven men and five women continue to work in a small room to determine if a man who was once one of the most famous in the world will stay a free man or become accustomed to Pennsylvania's penal system.

Topics: law-crime-and-justice, laws, courts-and-trials, sexual-offences, australia