Jussie Smollett was branded a ‘serial liar’ who ‘without question’ orchestrated a hoax attack in January 29, 2019, by hiring his friend and apparent sometimes lover Abel Osundairo, and his brother Ola to beat him up in an effort to boost his career.
As Dan Webb, Special Prosecutor for Smollett addressed the jury, he ripped through Smollett’s testimony. He said that the actor had deliberately “tailored” his testimony in order to hide the truth.
Smollett asked that jurors use “common sense” when reaching their verdict. Smollett stated it was proved beyond reasonable doubt by the brothers that Smollett knew of the attack.
‘Mr Smollett didn’t want the crime solved. He was interested in the publicity.
‘He doesn’t want the police to catch on to the brothers.
‘There is no question that Mr. Smollett is the person who orchestrated it. You were presented with many, many lies by Mr. Smollett when he appeared on the witness stand.
Webb said to the jury, ‘He lied under Oath to You Jurors during this trial.’
Nenye Uche, Smollett’s lawyer, said that jurors should ignore testimony from the brothers because they were’sophisticated criminals’.
Smollett claimed that he did not have a motive to lie and had an “anti motive”.
While he could not give any explanations for their lies, he stated that they cannot be trusted. The entire case rests upon them.
Smollett was also called a “pothead”, but he said that he had nothing to hide. He also criticised the brothers for not answering questions like “Robocop” or ‘yes’.
Abel took “so many restroom breaks” during Abel’s testimony. Abel also stated to the jury they had offered to amend their story for $2million.
Smollett was charged for six counts of disorderly behavior, including lying to the police six times. Each count can carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison but it is not clear if Smollett will serve any jail time.
The closing arguments ended just before 2:30 pm local time. Before allowing the jury to depart the court for deliberations, the judge will instruct them.
The charges against them are six counts each of disorderly conduct and lying.
They must prove that Smollett knew from the start it was a fake case in order to find him guilty. He claims he was attacked, by whomever it was, and that he believed he was lying when he reported his story to the police.
He was seen arriving at home on Wednesday with his family. They have been there for him every step of the way. Janet, his mother, is shown left and Jurnee, his sister, is shown right
Smollett is present with his family each day to the trial. He claims they believe them, that he was victim to a racist police officer who didn’t want him ever believing him.
Smollett is seen holding hands with Janet, his mother Janet, as he walks into courtroom.
Webb for the prosecution said that there was no evidence to suggest Smollett had lied.
JUSSIE SOLLETT CLOSES ARGUMENTS
Special Prosecutor Dan Webb
DAN WEBB, SPECIALPROSECUTOR
We have overwhelming evidence to show that, in reality, Mr. Smollett had in fact created the plan for a fake hate crime in January 2019.
‘It’s just plain wrong for Mr. Smollett … to outright denigrate something as serious, as heinous, as a real hate crime, to denigrate it and then make sure it involved words and symbols that have such horrible historical significance in our country’
‘Mr. Smollett took an oath that he would tell the truth when he appeared on the witness stand. He made many false statements.
“He took oath that he was a juror.”
“Smollett believed that it was whites who perpetrated this crime, and this made it even more plausible. It is not true that the Osundairo brothers were white, and it’s obvious.
‘Something else I would respectfully suggest is ridiculous…how was it he happened to be right at the intersection right at 2 a.m., when the brothers testified that’s what he told them?’
“Either he was going to go with his brothers, or he just likes eggs.”
SMOLLETT’S DEFENSE – NENYE UCHE
Nenye Umche, Smollett’s attorney
‘I told you before there was an elephant in this court room. This elephant makes assumptions
“The prosecution case is built on the evidence of two brothers, who are both sophisticated criminals and liars. They’re really intelligent and smart. They are also criminals. These are the most dangerous criminals.
“When they say that they are the worst criminals.. education should be a privelege. They are determined to make a living from their education. They’re certified liars.
‘Ola was on the witness stand he said “I don’t” recall so many times…
“Abel” takes many breaks to go to the bathroom. I don’t know what he’s doing in there.
‘They have a brotherly culture of lying, a brotherly language of lying’
‘The entire pros case is built like a house of cards and we all know what happens to a house of cards when you apply a little pressure. It will fall.
‘Is this a thing where Ola has hatred towards Jussie because he’s gay and Bola, the younger brother, is trying to prove to his older brother “I’m not gay so I’m going to (attack Smollett)?” I don’t know.’
“Was Bola masturbating in a bathroom with Jussie, pretending to homosexual?” I don’t even know.
‘”He’s a pothead, I’m sorry, he’s no longer one … (it was) the pressures of being an entertainer. That’s just the way it is, it sucks.’
He said that he knew there was substantial evidence to prove he had done exactly the same thing his brothers claimed he did. He also knew that there were surveillance and GPS evidence. Smollett said that he deliberately named his attackers white to make it more convincing.
“If I said it was whites that makes it real. This gives the attack more credibility (it was hate-motivated). I don’t think there can be any doubt in anyone’s mind who sat through this evidence that is was the Osundairo brothers, who are Black, who attacked him.’
Webb closed his arguments and said to the jury, “When you decide this matter as a jury, you can use your common senses and intelligence.”
Webb said it was ‘ridiculous to suggest’ that the brothers who were identified as the victims of the crime on the night of attack through evidence, were there because of any other reason.
Smollett also laughed at his claims of being out looking for eggs on the streets.
He said, “Either he planned to go with the brothers or else he loves eggs.”
Webb also spoke out about a Smollett text that Abel received after his February 14 arrest. It stated that Smollett had ‘1000%’ supported Abel and that he knew nothing of wrong.
It was an intentional attempt to manipulate him, he said.
He stated that Smollett wanted his brothers to be able to say, “We can keep our mouths closed. Mr. Smollett wants to keep their mouths shut. And no one will ever find out what happened.”
Webb also demolished Smolletts’ claim, which he said that on January 27th, when he was videotaped driving with the brothers that they were going to exercise.
He stated, “That was quite a bit of hooey.”
Smollett’s lies were called ‘heinous’ by the judge. He also said that it was ‘downright illegal’ for him to be charged with what he did. Smollett’s legal team will make their closing arguments in the next few hours. Judge has not set a time limit for each side.
Smollett’s lawyer admitted that he doesn’t know why Smollett and his brothers would lie.
He offered some speculations and told the jury that Smollett was the motivation.
‘Is it a thing where Ola has hatred towards Jussie because he’s gay and Bola, the younger brother, is trying to prove to his older brother “I’m not gay so I’m going to (attack Smollett)?” “I don’t know.”
Bola suggested that Bola had been merely ‘pretendingly gay’ and was masturbating at Jussie in the bathhouse. He later said, ‘I really don’t know.
On Wednesday, the actor aged 39 was seen arriving surrounded by his family who had supported him all along.
He claims innocence. His lawyers have offered various defenses throughout his trial. First, he said that his brother Olabinjo Osundairo attacked him because they hated his appearance and were homophobic.
The pair suggested that the two wanted to make him believe he required security. He would then hire them as his guards.
Smollett, according to his brothers, paid the three-year-olds $3500 to perform the attack to draw more attention to himself.
Six counts of felony disorderly behavior will be considered by the jury, which includes five black men, five Hispanic women and five white males.
The most serious of the class four felonies is Class 4. They carry a maximum sentence up to three years in prison. However, attorneys claim that it’s unlikely Smollett, who has not been convicted, will be sentencing.
Webb became upset with Dan Webb on Tuesday after repeating the N Word aloud and while reading private Instagram messages Smollett had sent Abel Osundairo during a flight from New York City, Chicago, in the hours preceding the attack.
Smollett attempted to manipulate his brothers by sending Abel this message on February 14, after he had been arrested. The prosecutor said that it was an instruction to “keep your mouth shut”.
Webb asked him not to use that word, in order to protect ‘every African American” who were present at the hearing. Smollett snapped at Webb when he apologized. ‘Apologies accepted, but it’s being used a lot.
However, he did not acknowledge the attack by Ola and Abel on him January 29, 2019. He said that he does not believe any of their words because they are liars. But he also acknowledged changing the way he described his attackers (from ‘white to ‘pale) early in the investigation. This was because it seemed like the right thing to do.
Smollett denied the plot and said, during Webb’s first questioning: “I don’t know.” I would have to speak with someone who had committed hate crimes.
Smollett claimed, too, that during the rehearsals of the act, Smollett and his brothers had been smoking marijuana together.
Abel, who testified against Smollett last Wednesday, is seen in front of the court. Olabinjo Osundairo was less close to the celebrity than Olabinjo Osundairo. DailyMail.com was told by the defendants that they were not there to seal the star’s fate.
A court sketch showing Abimbola Osundairo aka Abel Osundairo the brother Jussie partied to with last week shows him testifying against Smollett
Court sketch showing Jussie and Dan Smollett fighting in Chicago’s courtroom on Tuesday, as Dan Webb took to the witness stand for the second day.
He claims that he thought the couple were lighter skinned at the time they attacked him, and that it was difficult to see both of them properly.
The jury heard him tell them that they tried to intimidate him by staging an attack against him in order to make him think he required bodyguards and give him the job.
Smollett’s brothers testified to the jury last week that they were hired by him to simulate the attack to raise his star power.
The actor claimed that this wasn’t the case, and that he hates attention.
Monday was his first day with the police. He didn’t believe them.
One, I am Black in America and do not believe police. I am also a well known figure and I’m openly gay.
‘I want to play a boxer, I want to play a superhero… the moment I got beat I become a f****t who got his ass whooped,’ he told the court on Monday when asked why he didn’t call the cops.
TIMELINE JUSSIE HOLLETT ATTACK SCANDAL
Jan. 22, 2019
Smollett gets a racist, homophobic and threatening letter in Chicago from the studio that “Empire” films. The letter was sent by Smollett, according to police.
According to his brothers, Smollett sent the same letter to Fox Studios where Empire was filmed one week prior. He could face another five to ten years imprisonment on federal mail fraud charges.
According to police, Smollett sliced his cheek in an attempt to appear as if he was suffering from injuries during the attack.
Jan. 29, 2019
Jussie Smollett reveals to police that two men attacked him in Chicago’s downtown area at 2 AM.
According to the actor, they used homophobic and racist slurs and wrapped a rope around him neck before pouring an unknown substance on him.
According to police, Smollett is Black and Gay. He told detectives that the attackers shouted at him, “MAGA country”.
Jan. 30, 2019
Chicago police state that they have reviewed hundreds upon hours of footage from surveillance cameras, which includes Smollett’s walking through downtown. However, none of the footage shows Smollett being attacked. Two people are sought by police and released images.
Feb. 1, 2019
Smollett issued a statement declaring that he was OK, that authorities are working with him and that he had been 100% truthful and consistent at every level.
Feb. 2, 2019
Smollett opened a West Hollywood concert with an emotional speech. He said he needed to perform the show as his attackers couldn’t win.
This image shows a group of “persons of concern” taken close to the attack. Police have released it
Feb. 13, 2019
Chicago police arrest Nigerian brothers after learning that one had worked at Empire.
The police search the apartment and question them.
Jussie Stmollett, Good Morning America February 14, 2019,
February 20, 2019,
Smollett is indicted
Feb. 21, 2019
Chicago police report that Smollett has surrendered to a felony disorderly conduct charge, which can land him up to three years imprisonment.
Eddie Johnson, Chicago Police Superintendent says that Smollett orchestrated the attack due to dissatisfaction with his salary and desire for publicity. Investigators claim they have a $3500 check from Smollett that he used to pay his brothers for their assistance.
On Thursday, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson dragged through Smollett during a press conference. He called him’shameful and’ as well as ‘despicable.
Jussie is seen in this mugshot taken February 2019, by Jussie.
Feb. 22, 2019
Empire producers claim that Smollett will be eliminated from the last two episodes.
February 7, 2019,
Smollett is accused of falsely reporting an offence by a Cook County grand jury.
April 26, 2019,
Smollett’s lawyers claim that charges against him for lying to officers have been dropped.
March 28, 2019
Officials from Chicago claim they are seeking $130,000 to reimburse Smollett for his investigation into the beating he suffered.
Tina Glandian, Tina’s lawyer for Smollett, claims that attackers may have worn ‘white faces’ on TV. That’s why he described them as light-skinned
April 11, 2019
Chicago filed a lawsuit to recover the costs of its investigation.
Tina Glandian, Jussie’s attorney suggested that Jussie said his Nigerian attackers had been white because they were’might’ have worn white faces and disguised themselves. A 2016 video (right), showing Abel Osundairo disguised as Joker, is her evidence.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself from the Smollett case
23 April 2019
Smollett’s brothers filed a lawsuit for defamation against them.
Aug. 23, 2019
The judge names Dan Webb, a former U.S. Attorney to be the special prosecutor in an investigation into why Smollett was not charged.
Feb. 11, 2020
Webb reports that the grand jury indicts Smollett on six charges. He accuses Webb of lying to police.
Feb. 24, 2020
Smollett pleads innocent to the reinstated charges.
Oct. 15, 2021
Smollett is to be tried in court on November 29th by Judge James Linn.
November 29th, 2021Start of jury selection