The jury in the Jussie Smollett case has found him guilty of five counts of disorderly conduct related to a racist and homophobic attack police said the “Empire” actor staged against himself. He was acquitted on one count.
The “Empire” actor arrived at the courthouse shortly after 5 p.m. to hear the verdict read, surrounded by family as he has been for the duration of the trial.
Both prosecution and defense gave their closing arguments Wednesday morning. The jury got the case shortly before 2:45 p.m. One juror had a prior commitment and had to leave by 5:15, and shortly after 5 p.m. the judge dismissed jurors for the day, ending their first day of deliberations without reaching a verdict. On Thursday, they resumed their deliberating about 9:15 a.m. at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse and announced they had reached a verdict around 4:30 p.m.
Ola Osundairo is present in the courtroom to hear the verdict read, but his brother Bola is in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he is competing in the USA Boxing Tournament. His attorney said he won a bout Wednesday night and is fighting again Thursday evening, despite the trial disrupting his training schedule.
Judge James Linn had urged the jurors to take as much time as they may need to decide guilt or innocence in the case.
Jurors did have a question Wednesday night, requesting a calendar the special prosecutor used during the trial.
He told the jury Smollett is not credible and said he was “tailoring his testimony” and lying under oath. He detailed places where he argued Smollett changed his story, and emphasized Smollett’s reluctance to participate in the CPD investigation.
Webb argued Smollett refused to give police his phone because he had messaged Bola Osundairo.
“How would the brothers know to be right at that intersection right at 2 a.m.?” asked Webb. “Smollett told them where he was going to be.”
And Webb said Smollett manipulated the rope that Ola Osundairo testified he couldn’t get around the actor’s neck.
During the defense’s closing arguments, Smollett’s attorney Nenye Uche described the case as crazy and Smollett as innocent and called the Osundairo brothers “con man” “liars” “criminals” who wanted money from the actor.
The defense said in January 2019 Smollett’s star was on the rise.
“Not only does Jussie have a lack of motive, he has anti-motive.” said Uche. “He’s dumb enough to go into Obama’s city and pretend there’s Trump supporters with MAGA hats running around? Gimme a break.”
Smollett’s defense ended with an appeal.
