The criminal trial started last week as prosecutors told the jury that Smollett, who is Black and gay, directed two acquaintances — the brothers Bola and Ola Osundairo — to carry out a fake anti-gay and racist attack on a frigid night in Chicago near Smollett’s apartment building. Five police investigators and the Osundairo brothers testified for the prosecution last week.
Defense attorneys called seven witnesses of their own to testify, highlighted by Smollett himself. He testified over about 8 hours Monday and Tuesday he had not planned any such hoax, and that he was actually attacked one night after going out to get a Subway sandwich.
After closing arguments Wednesday morning, the jury will be instructed on the law and then sent to deliberate.
The long road to trial
The trial is the culmination of a case that began when Smollett told police he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in January 2019. Two men allegedly attacked him, called him the n-word, put a noose around his neck, poured bleach on him and exclaimed, “This is MAGA country,” according to police.
Celebrities, politicians and advocacy groups rallied behind the actor, and police poured significant resources into solving the case and locating the suspects. But after interviewing the Osundairo brothers — who knew Smollett from the “Empire” show — and finding other evidence, authorities instead determined that Smollett paid them $3,500 to stage the hate crime so he could get publicity and a career boost.
Smollett has repeatedly denied the allegations and his attorneys have said he paid the brothers to be his trainers.
Smollett was initially indicted on 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct in March 2019. However, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office dropped all charges weeks later, saying he did community service, lost his $10,000 bond and was no danger to the community. He also had no previous felony convictions.
Months after the charges were dropped, a judge appointed a special…
Source : cnn
