In recapping what he already ran the jury through at trial, special prosecutor Dan Webb summarized the case in his closing argument Wednesday in just six easy points for the jury to consider when they go into deliberations either later today or tomorrow:
Special prosecutor Dan Webb finished his closing arguments in the Jussie Smollett trial by telling the jury that he and his team have proven "beyond a reasonable doubt" that the "Empire actor faked the hate crime attack against himself.
After laying out his six key points, Webb stated that the Osundairo brothers are the ones telling the truth and that there is evidence to support their claims. He also called out the defense for trying to prove that the brothers were homophobic, which they claim motivated the attack. Webb said that had nothing to do with their testimony that Smollett instructed them on what to do that night.
He also concluded by once again stating that claims the police rushed to judgement are false, citing the 3,000 hours of investigation clocked in by roughly 24-26 officers. Now that Webb is done, the defense will get a chance to speak in support of Smollett before the trial is turned over to the jury for deliberations.
Special prosecutor Dan Webb continued his closing argument on Monday by laying out six key pieces of evidence that he believes “destroy” Jussie Smollett’s defense.
In recapping what he already ran the jury through at trial, Webb summarized the case Wednesday in just six easy points for the jury to consider when they go into deliberations either later today or tomorrow:
- Smollett allegedly withheld evidence from the police such as DNA evidence, medical records and his phone records. Webb believes this is because he didn’t want the crime to be solved.
- Smollett actively attempted to mislead the police by saying that his attackers were White or “pale-skinned” when the Osundairo brothers are dark-skinned Black men from Nigeria.
- Smollett faked evidence by seemingly adjusting the rope that his attackers allegedly put around his neck to look tighter when speaking with police. Webb showed an image of the rope looking tighter in his interview with the police. Smollett previously testified that he took the rope off but put it back on when he realized it was important evidence that he shouldn’t have tampered with.
- The Osundairo brothers could not possibly have known where Smollett was without him telling them his location. Smollett says he was out at 2 a.m. that night to get eggs to keep up with a diet plan but the store was closed. So, he grabbed a Subway sandwich and walked home where he was attacked. Webb went over Instagram messages with Abel Osundairo while Smollett was on the stand Tuesday to try to prove that he was communicating his position.
- Smollett did not have serious injuries stemming from the attack. That is in keeping with what the Osundairo brothers testified. They say Smollett told them not to hurt him too badly.
- Smollett never signed a criminal complaint against the brothers. Instead, he sent Abel a text message after it came to light the brothers had been arrested in which he said he didn’t believe they did anything wrong and stood with them. Webb alleges that this was the actor’s way of telling them he’d protect them.
Actor Jussie Smollett departs Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, with his motherJanet, the Leighton Criminal Courthouse after day six of his trial in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Special prosecutor Dan Webb kicked off his closing arguments in the case against Jussie Smollett by alleging his team had proven that Smollett violated the law and did something “just plain wrong.”
He says that Smollett, who is Black and gay, staged a hate crime attack against himself for publicity reasons and further lied to police about it, which is a felony. However, he told the jury that not only did the actor violate the law, but he did something especially immoral to the Black and gay community by faking something so “heinous.”
In addition, Webb wanted the jury to know that he believes Smollett not only lied to the public and the police, but he lied to the jury as well. Following two days of testimony, the prosecutor claimed that Smollett said demonstrably false things under oath.
Specifically, he said that Smollett’s claims that he did not know his attackers and his assertion that they were White was false. Smollett clarified yesterday, though, that he merely assumed his attackers were White based on what they said to him but used the term “pale-skinned” to police. However, Webb believes the police proved that it was Nigerian brothers Abimbola and Olabingo Osundairo who attacked the actor at his own behest.
He also made a lot of the fact that Smollett believed that telling the police and the public that the people who attacked him were White, racist, homophobic Trump supporters would give his story more credibility.
Fox News’ Matt Finn reports that Webb stated: “Smollett has had this theory that if I say white – that makes it a more real hate attack because whites attacking African American gay man. But the Osundairo brothers are not white you and know that.”
Closing arguments have officially begun in Jussie Smollett’s trial, marking the last step before the jury deliberates his fate.
Judge Linn announced on Wednesday that there will be no time limit on the prosecution nor the defense as they offer their last speeches to the jury in the hopes of convincing them of their side in the case.
Smollett is charged with six counts of felony disorderly conduct for allegedly offering a false police report about the account six different times to three different investigators The class 4 felony carries a prison sentence of up to three years, however, it is unlikely that he will be sentenced to prison time with probation and community service much more likely. However, after testifying on the stand, legal experts previously told Fox News that may impact the judge’s decision to punish him more harshly should the jury find him guilty.
In this courtroom sketch, special prosecutor Dan Webb, left, cross-examines actor Jussie Smollett Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Cheryl Cook)
While former "Empire" performer Jussie Smollett gave a whirlwind testimony over the course of two days that saw Smollett vehemently state in no uncertain terms that the allegations are "100% false" despite what the Osundairo brothers previously testified, some legal experts believe Smollett did himself no favors and likely hurt his defense by taking the stand.
"Smollett testifying in his own defense is one of two things, or maybe both: a narcissistic criminal defendant who is doubling down on his charged lies to law enforcement or defense attorneys who know they are way behind and are throwing a low probability Hail Mary to try to get their client off," former U.S. attorney Neama Rahmani, who is not involved with Smollett's case, told Fox News Digital.
Rahmani added: "Either way, Smollett’s story was a bizarre attempt at forcing a square peg into a round hole by offering every possible explanation for the state’s digital evidence except the most obvious one: that he is guilty. In the unlikely event he is acquitted, Smollett’s decision was a genius move. But it is far more likely that the jury sees through his ruse and Smollett is convicted. If so, the judge may sentence him to prison time for obstructing justice and perjuring himself on the witness stand."
Other legal experts who spoke with Fox News Digital shared similar sentiments about Smollett’s testimony.
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Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday in the case against Jussie Smollett after a tense day in court that included prosecutors questioning the former “Empire” actor who is accused of staging a racist attack in 2019.
Over the past two days of intense court testimony, Jussie Smollett was asked questions from his defense team and prosecutors about the alleged encounter.
After closing arguments, the jury is then expected to begin deliberating whether Smollett is guilty on six counts of a low-level felony for lying to Chicago police about the January 2019 attack.
The former "Empire" actor denied under oath all allegations that he brought the Osundairo brothers on a "dry run" of his attack two days prior to it taking place.
The two siblings previously testified that he paid them to help him orchestrate the attack in downtown Chicago.
Smollett, 39, is charged with six counts of felony disorderly conduct for making what prosecutors say was a false police report about the alleged attack — one count for each time he gave a report — to three different officers. The class 4 felony carries a prison sentence of up to three years, but experts have said if Smollett is convicted, he would likely be placed on probation and ordered to perform community service. -The Associated Press contributed to this report
Jussie Smollett trial: Prosecutor ends closing arguments: LIVE UPDATES (foxnews.com)
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