US Actor, Jussie Smollett found Guilty of Lying About Attack

BoomRadioNG | December 11, 2021

A Chicago jury has found that US actor Jussie Smollett lied to police when he claimed to have been the victim of a racist, homophobic assault.

At trial this week, Smollett stood by denials that he staged the hoax attack against himself.

Prosecutors countered that he “lied for hours” on the stand as he repeated what he told to Chicago police.

He was found guilty on Thursday of five counts of disorderly conduct.

Jussie Smollett

Each count carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. Given Smollett’s lack of previous convictions, experts have said a lighter sentence or probation is likely. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

The jury of six men and six women reached its decision one day after deliberations began.

Nenye Uche, a lawyer for Smollett, said that the team “obviously respectfully disagree with the jury’s verdict”, and that they are “100% confident” that the case will be overturned on appeal.

Paul Ayorinde