Actor Jussie Smollett’s was convicted on Thursday for lying to Chicago police about a racist, homophobic attack. The jury convicted him on five counts of disorderly conduct. AP reporter Don Babwin describes scene in the courtroom:
The report made headlines around the world and prompted a massive manhunt in Chicago, with roughly two dozen police joining the investigation. It also drew criticism from Trump, who called the police department’s handling of the case “an absolute embarrassment to our country.”
Smollett, who is Black and gay, maintained throughout the nearly three-year legal battle that he was attacked in downtown Chicago in January 2019 by people who yelled racist and anti-gay slurs and put a noose around his neck.five of six counts “Unfortunately we were facing an uphill battle where Jussie was already tried and convicted in the media and then we had to somehow get the jury to forget or unsee all the news stories that they had been hearing that were negative for the last three years,” Uche told reporters after the verdict.The jury convicted the 39-year-old on five counts of disorderly conduct — for each separate time he was charged with lying to police in the days after the alleged attack.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jussie Smollett convicted of staging attack, lying to police | AP NewsCHICAGO (AP) — Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett was convicted Thursday on charges he staged an anti-gay, racist attack on himself nearly three years ago and then lied to Chicago police about it.
Read more »
Jury begins deliberations in trial of actor Jussie Smollett | AP NewsCHICAGO (AP) — The jury in Jussie Smollett’s trial started deliberating Wednesday, after a prosecutor said there is “overwhelming evidence” that the former “Empire” actor lied to police about being the victim of an anti-gay, racist attack and his defense attorney said the charges are based on lies.
Read more »
Jussie Smollett found guilty of lying to police in hate crime hoaxJUST IN: Former 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett has been found guilty on five of six counts of disorderly conduct for making a false report to Chicago police that he was the victim of a hate crime in January 2019, an attack prosecutors said he staged.
Read more »
Jussie Smollett convicted of staging hate crime, lying to copsBREAKING: Verdict announced for Jussie Smollett in alleged hate crime hoax trial
Read more »
Actor Jussie Smollett Found Guilty of Lying to Police in Faking a Hate CrimeThe former “Empire” star had told police that two men used racist, antigay language and a pro-Trump slogan before hitting and kicking him and placing a noose around his neck in 2019.
Read more »
Jury Finds Jussie Smollett Staged Hate Crime Against Himself, Guilty of Lying to PoliceThe former Empire star has been found guilty on five of the six counts against him
Read more »