Jury Deliberates Assault Case Involving Jonathan Majors
A jury began deliberating on Thursday in the assault trial of Hollywood star Jonathan Majors in New York. The trial has featured conflicting narratives about whether Majors was the aggressor or victim during a chaotic struggle with his then-girlfriend that began in the back seat of a car.
Allegations and Closing Arguments
The criminal case revolves around allegations brought by Grace Jabbari, a 30-year-old British dancer, who claims that Majors struck her on the side of the head, twisted her arm behind her back, and broke her finger during a dispute last spring. Majors’ lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, portrayed Jabbari as a compulsive liar seeking revenge after discovering her boyfriend’s infidelity.
Prosecutors argue that Majors assaulted Jabbari, leaving her stunned in the back seat of a car. They claim that this assault was part of a pattern of physical and emotional violence used by Majors to control his girlfriend. Deliberations are set to resume on Friday afternoon.
Potential Implications
The verdict in this trial may have far-reaching implications beyond the Manhattan courtroom. Prior to his arrest in March, Majors was set to play the next major supervillain in the Marvel universe as “Kang the Conquerer.” Additionally, the release of his prestige drama, “Magazine Dreams,” was postponed following his arrest.
Security Footage and Arguments
The struggle between Majors and Jabbari in the back of the car was not captured on video. However, both sides presented security footage leading up to and after the dispute to support their arguments.
The prosecution repeatedly played a video showing Majors “manhandling” Jabbari outside the vehicle, lifting her off the ground and placing her in the back seat. Manhattan assistant district attorney Kelli Galaway described this as Majors treating Jabbari “as if she was a doll.”
The defense argued that Majors was attempting to escape from Jabbari, who was pursuing him for details about a text message she had seen on his phone. They pointed to footage of Majors sprinting through the darkened streets of Lower Manhattan as evidence of his attempt to evade her.
Following the incident, Jabbari followed a group of strangers to a dance club, where she was seen on security footage ordering shots and using her injured hand. The defense claimed that this footage proved she was unharmed. However, prosecutors countered that Jabbari only discovered the extent of her injuries the following morning when she sent photographs to a friend.
Conclusion
The jury’s decision in this trial will determine whether Jonathan Majors is guilty of assault. The case has attracted significant attention due to Majors’ rising Hollywood career and his involvement in upcoming Marvel projects. The verdict is eagerly awaited by both fans and industry insiders.
