Related video: Jonathan Majors court date
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Jonathan Majors, a popular actor from Marvel, received support from his girlfriend Meagan Good as he appeared in court for his highly anticipated trial for assault in New York City.
Mr. Majors has been charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, while they were in a car in the city on March 25th, on their way to his apartment. He has entered a plea of not guilty for all the charges brought against him.
Ms. Jabbari alleges that he slapped her, shoved her into the car, twisted her arm, and grabbed and hurt her hand. The prosecution claims that she received medical treatment for minor injuries to her head and neck, including a cut on her ear.
Priya Chaudhry, the lawyer representing him, has called the supposed victim a dishonest person. In June, Mr. Majors made a formal accusation against her, claiming that she physically assaulted him and accused him of communicating with another woman.
Ms. Jabbari was arrested by officials of the New York City Police Department in October. However, the Manhattan District Attorney ultimately chose not to pursue charges against her. Despite this, Judge Michael Gaffey ruled that Mr. Majors’ lawyers could mention the arrest during the trial.
If Mr. Majors is convicted, he could potentially face a maximum sentence of one year in prison.
The process of selecting the jury began at 10am EST on Thursday, with the panel being chosen from a group of 40 individuals who were sworn in the previous day.
The lawyer for Jonathan Majors inquires of the potential jurors if they are able to assume the innocence of her client as the jury is being chosen.
According to the New York Post, attorney Priya Chaudhry, who is representing Jonathan Majors in the case, asked the jury members if they could guarantee that they will assume Mr. Majors’ innocence, despite his celebrity status.
The panel members indicated their willingness. The jury consists of six individuals, with an equal number of women and men, as well as two alternates. Four of the members are people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, but no African American men were included. The trial will commence with opening statements on Monday.
A chronology of occurrences following the detainment of Jonathan Majors.
On March 25, 2023, actor Jonathan Majors was taken into custody in New York for five counts of assault, harassment, and strangulation following accusations from his former partner Grace Jabbari.
According to People, he was charged with three instances of third degree assault, second degree aggravated harassment, three instances of attempted third degree assault, and second degree harassment.
On March 26, 2023, Mr. Majors’ lawyer issues a statement asserting his innocence and revealing him as the true victim of a crime.
According to his attorney, Priya Chaudhry, Jonathan Majors is entirely blameless and can demonstrate that he was involved in a physical confrontation with a woman he is acquainted with. We are currently collecting and presenting evidence to the District Attorney in hopes of having all accusations against him dismissed soon.
On March 26, 2023, the US Army removes recruitment ads with Mr. Majors after his arrest.
On April 18, 2023, it was reported that Mr. Majors’ public relations company has ended its business relationship with the actor.
On April 27, 2023, a judge has granted Grace Jabbari a complete temporary restraining order against Mr. Majors.
On May 9, 2023, Mr. Majors makes his first appearance in court.
On June 21, 2023, Mr. Majors submitted a complaint of domestic violence against Ms. Jabbari.
On October 25, 2023, Ms. Jabbari was taken into custody for allegedly committing assault and criminal mischief. However, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office ultimately chose not to pursue charges against her.
29 November, 2023 — Trial begins.
Who is the person known as Jonathan Majors?
Jonathan Majors, aged 34, has appeared in films such as Creed III, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
He hails from Dallas, Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in acting from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. During his time there, he participated in multiple theatrical performances, including a rendition of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, as reported by Rotten Tomatoes.
After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Mr. Majors continued his education and earned a master’s degree from Yale University. He then joined the Chautauqua Theatre Company in New York before finding success in the film industry.
The first time he appeared on screen was in the ABC miniseries When We Rise.
According to his biography, Mr. Majors has been selected as a nominee for a Gotham Award in the category of “breakthrough actor” and an Independent Spirit Award for “best supporting male.”
What are the accusations against Jonathan Majors?
On 25 March, Jonathan Majors was charged with assault and harassment, both misdemeanors, for reportedly attacking his former partner, Grace Jabbari.
Police in New York City were called to Mr Majors’ apartment in Chelsea that morning in response to an emergency. Upon investigation, they found that he had been engaged in a domestic altercation with a woman, who was later identified as Ms Jabbari.
Ms Jabbari reported being attacked and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries to her head and neck. In the meantime, Mr Majors was held in custody and eventually released without bail on the same day.
If found guilty, the performer could potentially be sentenced to one year in jail.
Who is the person known as Grace Jabbari?
On September 12, 2022, in Toronto, Ontario, Jonathan Majors and Grace Jabbari were in attendance at the premiere of “Devotion” at Cinesphere. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images captured the moment.
The person pressing charges against Jonathan Majors for assault is a 30-year-old British dancer and movement coach named Grace Jabbari.
She has performed as a dancer in various projects, including Barbie, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, A Christmas Carol, and Coldplay’s music video for “Cry Cry Cry.”
Ms. Jabarri has worked as a movement coach on several Marvel movies, such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It is rumored that she and Mr. Majors first crossed paths while working on the set of Wasp.
According to her dance company’s website, she is originally from Reading, England, a city approximately 36 miles away from London. She completed her undergraduate studies at Rambert School and her graduate studies at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, both with first-class honors.
She has entertained musicians such as Florence and The Machine, Damien Rice, and Naeem fka Spank Rock.
The woman has made a claim that Mr. Majors physically attacked her by hitting her face, twisting her finger, and grabbing her neck. His lawyer has refuted these accusations.
Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors were seen leaving the courtroom together.
On Thursday afternoon, actor Jonathan Majors and his partner, actress Meagan Good, were seen exiting a Manhattan courthouse together.
The court has taken a break for lunch. No jurors have been chosen yet and Mr. Majors did not address the accusations when leaving the building.
The start of opening statements is scheduled for Monday.
Judge Michael Gaffey announced during proceedings on Thursday that opening statements for the trial of Jonathan Majors will commence on Monday.
Initial statements were anticipated to commence on Thursday, according to court observers.
In the meantime, the process of choosing a jury is ongoing.
According to the New York Post, a potential juror who is an actor on a TV show expressed strong disapproval towards individuals who engage in violence against women.
“He told me I could use the information however I saw fit,” he said, before assuring that he would be just during the trial.
Potential jurors were dispatched to complete questionnaires.
The presiding judge, Michael Gaffey, dismissed the jurors from the courtroom to complete questionnaires as a part of the selection process. They were then reconvened to respond to additional inquiries.
Vulture reports that Jonathan Majors seems to be actively taking notes while participating in the jury selection process.
The judge is anticipated to select six jurors and two alternates.
Forty potential jurors will be narrowed down to six people and two alternates. Jury selection is currently taking place in a Manhattan court, as reported by the New York Post.
The duration of the trial is estimated to be two weeks.
The judge inquired of the jury if they were able to set aside the footage of Grace Jabbari.
Reporter Victoria Bekiempis from Vulture reports that Judge Michael Gaffey asked potential jury members if they could disregard the video of Grace Jabbari dancing at a club after the alleged assault and focus only on the evidence presented.
A few individuals stated that they were unable to do so.
The comments were made following the judge’s question about the panelists’ knowledge of the case. Multiple members of the group replied affirmatively.
The source for this information is the website independent.co.uk.
