Has US actor Jussie Smollett faked a homophobic and racist attack against himself? Jurors found the former “Empire” star guilty on most counts.
Chicago – US actor Jussie Smollett, 39, who was accused of making false statements to the police, has been found guilty on most counts.
Jurors in the Chicago trial came to the verdict after two days of deliberations, as CNN reported on Thursday. A judge must determine the sentence at a later date. The actor faces imprisonment and a fine.
Alleged attack on Smollett
The charges accused the former star of the US series “Empire” of having faked a racist and homophobic attack directed against him. The headline-grabbing case began in January 2019 when Smollett told police he was attacked by two masked men one night near his home. The actor was later arrested for alleged false testimony. According to investigators, he is said to have paid the men to fake the attack against him. The gay and African American actor wanted to advance his career, it said.
Smollett had denied the allegations in court. He did not cheat or fabricate an attack, he said on the witness stand during the trial. Two men, however, testified that they were paid by the actor to fake the incident. dpa
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