(Chicago) The trial of American actor Jussie Smollett, accused of inventing a racist and homophobic assault in 2019 in Chicago, began Monday in the great metropolis of the north of the United States with the selection of the jury.
African-American gay actor, fallen television star Empire, pleads not guilty to the allegations that he “planned and participated” in the assault of which he claims to have been the victim. He also allegedly made false statements to the police.
The trial could end on Friday or early next week, Judge James Linn said at the start of the hearing.
In January 2019, he said he was attacked in a city street by two supporters of President Donald Trump, who allegedly used racist and homophobic insults.
The affair sparked outrage in a country still strongly marked by racial and sexual discrimination.
But the investigation quickly concluded with a staging of Smollett, 39, who allegedly paid $ 3,500 to two Nigerian brothers to pretend to attack him, with the aim of advancing his career and obtaining a larger salary. in the TV series.
The case had a new twist in March 2019 when county prosecutors dropped all charges against him in exchange for $ 10,000 and two days of community service.
The Chicago city hall then decided to sue him in civil proceedings so that he reimburses the costs related to the police investigation, in the amount of $ 130,000.
And he was indicted again in February 2020 for his alleged role in the assault.
It is not known if the actor, who was ousted from the series Empire, will testify at his trial, but brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo are expected to take the stand.
Their lawyer, Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez, said in February 2020 that her clients were “honest, open and remorseful about their conduct in this case.”
“They have told the truth from day one, they will continue to do so and to cooperate,” she added, assuring that they had “nothing” obtained in exchange.