Jonathan Majors trial - live: Grace Jabbari tears up as she testifies about alleged abuse
Grace Jabbari, the woman who has accused Jonathan Majors of attacking her in March, has taken the stand in the assault trial on Tuesday.
She is the second witness to testify in the case.
According to a Vulture report, she entered the courtroom through a side door and smiled at her family. Mr Majors was seen looking at her as she was sworn in.
So far, the woman has described how she met the actor on the set of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in September of 2021. The two began a whirlwind romance, she said, with the actor telling her he loved her early on in the relationship.
Ms Jabbari has accused Mr Majors of slapping her, throwing her into the car after she exited it, twisting her arm and grabbing and injuring her hand. Prosecutors say that she was treated at a hospital for minor injuries to her head and neck, which included a cut to her ear.
Majors has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been supported in court by his current girlfriend Meagan Good as the trial got underway.
Opening statements began on Monday (5 December) with prosecutors accusing Mr Majors of a “manipulative pattern of psychological abuse” and physical abuse in the lead-up to the alleged assault. Prosecutors also zeroed in on claims that Mr Majors was cheating on Ms Jabbari.
The defence, however, honed in on the narrative that Mr Majors was in fact the victim of an attack by Ms Jabbari.
The trial continues on Tuesday.
Key points
Opening statements to begin today
Attorneys not to refer to Grace Jabbari as “the victim”
A timeline of events since Jonathan Majors’ arrest
Jonathan Majors’ attorney asks panelists if they can presume her client is ‘innocent’ as jurors are selected
Grace Jabbari now describing March incident
20:18 , Michelle Del Rey
Grace Jabbari is back on the stand after court resumed following a lunch break.
She’s currently discussing the incident at the centre of the trial, which occurred on 25 March 2023. She said that morning she and Jonathan Majors enjoyed brunch and walked around.
She described the day as “really nice, really loving and sweet...a really nice day,” according to Vulture.
However, when the pair left the actor’s apartment that evening his mood changed. While they were in the elevator on their way to Mr Majors’ car, she said he made a comment about her appearance, stating that she had too many buttons undone and requested that she redo the buttons.
She buttoned one up, she said, adding “something had shifted.”
Meagan Good returns to courtroom for another day of testimony
20:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Meagan Good, the actress rumoured to be Jonathan Majors’ girlfriend, has reportedly been spotted at the Manhattan courtroom where his misdemeanour assault trial is taking place.
The actress has accompanied the actor throughout the proceedings. On Monday, Mr Majors was seen entering the courtroom with his mother and Ms Good by his side.
He faces up to a year in jail if convicted.
Court has adjourned for a break
19:40 , Michelle Del Rey
Court has appeared to have adjourned for a break but proceedings are expected to continue later on in the day.
Jonathan Majors arrives at court for second day of testimony
19:20 , Michelle Del Rey
Jonathan Majors arrived at a Manhattan courthouse for a second day of testimony in his assault case.
He was spotted in a grey suit with a notebook and his Bible, which he has brought to court repeatedly over the last week.
The actor appeared to be reading the holy book in the courtroom, according to Victoria Bekiempis, a reporter for Vulture, though it’s not clear which passages he was going over. He was seen tracing the verses with a finger.
Court proceedings started around 10am
Grace Jabbari describes an alleged incident where Jonathan Majors ripped out her headphones
17:58 , Michelle Del Rey
While on the stand, Grace Jabbari described an incident where Jonathan Majors allegedly ripped her headphones out of her ears. She said the alternation happened in September of 2022, according to Vulture.
She said that Mr Majors got mad at her after she brought a female friend back to their home after going to the pub. She left after the argument but returned when she received texts from the actor professing his love and stating how he wanted to marry her.
Still, Ms Jabbari said Mr Majors allegedly told her not to tell anyone about his intentions because it would ruin his plan for them.
When she returned, she said Mr Majors got angry again, which she recorded. On Tuesday, jurors heard a recording of the incident Ms Jabbari described.
Separately, Ms Jabbari said that Mr Majors allegedly threatened suicide after getting angry at her and that he made similar threats on more than one occasion.
She put his emotional needs first, she said, which made her draw further into the relationship. As a result, she pulled away from friends and her family.
“I felt really dependent on him,” she said, explaining how her confidence sank. “I felt like every time I saw them I was lying to them.”
Grace Jabbari speaks about how she first met Jonathan Majors
17:24 , Michelle Del Rey
Grace Jabbari spoke about how she met Jonathan Majors during his assault trial on Tuesday.
She answered questions from Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Kelli Galaway. According to ABC News, the dancer wore plaid pants and a plaid jacket while providing testimony.
She introduced herself to the jury by saying, “I am Grace Jabbari, nice to meet you. I’m a professional dancer.”
Ms Jabbari’s family sat in the front row, on the opposite side of the aisle from Majors’ family.
While on set in Pinewood, United Kingdom for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the woman said the actor came over to her and asked what she was doing there.
“Oh I’m a dancer, I’m working on movement,” she recalled telling him.
Mr Majors’ hairstylist subsequently slipped her his number and the couple went on their first date.
“We spent every day together, maybe minus a few, within the next few months,” the outlet quoted Ms Jabbari as saying in the courtroom. “I felt very loved and cared for”.
Grace Jabbari seen choking up while on the stand
16:44 , Michelle Del Rey
According to Vulture, Grace Jabbari was seen choking up while on the stand as prosecutors asked her about her relationship with Jonathan Majors.
She discussed how Mr Majors allegedly got angry with her while she was at the Glastonbury music festival for having poor cell service and a 2022 incident during which Mr Majors allegedly threw things during an argument.
Ms Jabbari has previously claimed that Mr Majors threw things during an argument.
Grace Jabbari recalls how she met Jonathan Majors
16:24 , Michelle Del Rey
Grace Jabbari is now testifying in Jonathan Majors’ assault trial. So far, she’s described how the pair met on the UK set of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 2021 September.
She described their romance as whirlwind, adding that the actor told her “I love you” early on and wrote her little poems.
However, things changed in December of that year when she went to visit him in Atlanta.
Upon arrival, the dancer said Majors gave her instructions on how to interact with his dogs. She responded by saying that her only prior interaction with a dog was with her ex boyfriend.
Majors allegedly got angry at the remark, according to Vulture.
“He got angry at me…how dare I mention him, how dare I talk about his dog...talking about the physical appearance of my ex...”, she said during testimony, according to the outlet.
He then allegedly started “talking about how it’s embarrassing for him that I dated him.” Jabbari said, adding that Majors’ described her ex’s dog as “pathetic” in a raised voice. After that interaction, she said she knew not to mention her ex again.
Grace Jabbari recounts how she met Jonathan Majors
16:14 , Michelle Del Rey
Grace Jabbari is now testifying in Jonathan Majors’ assault trial. So far, she’s described how the pair met on the UK set of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 2021 September.
She described their romance as whirlwind, adding that the actor told her “I love you” early on and wrote her little poems.
However, things changed in December of that year when she went to visit him in Atlanta.
Upon arrival, the dancer said Majors gave her instructions on how to interact with his dogs. She responded by saying that her only prior interaction with a dog was with her ex boyfriend.
Majors allegedly got angry at the remark, according to Vulture.
“He got angry at me…how dare I mention him, how dare I talk about his dog...talking about the physical appearance of my ex...”, she said during testimony, according to the outlet.
He then allegedly started “talking about how it’s embarrassing for him that I dated him.” Jabbari said, adding that Majors’ described her ex’s dog as “pathetic” in a raised voice. After that interaction, she said she knew not to mention her ex again.
Prosecutors call Grace Jabbari to the stand
15:40 , Michelle Del Rey
Grace Jabbari, the woman who says Jonathan Majors attacked her, is about to take the stand in the case.
Opening statements began on Monday
14:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Opening statements in the Jonathan Majors trial occurred on Monday. Court watchers previously expected opening statements to start on Thursday last week.
On Tuesday, the trial is set to continue with more witnesses. So far, only one person has testified in the sexual assault case.
Jonathan Majors arrives at court New York courtroom with Meagan Good
12:00 , Michelle Del Rey
The actress Meagan Good arrived at a Manhattan courtroom to support her boyfriend, Jonathan Majors, for a second time last week. The couple were seen walking hand-in-hand. Mr Majors was spotted wearing a fedora hat with a feather and a double-breasted suit.
The couple walked out of the courtroom around 9.40am ET on Friday. Judge Michael Gaffey decided on the admissibility of evidence ahead of jury selection.
Ms Good has starred in several films, including Deliver Us from Eva, Roll Bounce and Stomp the Yard.
Here’s everything we know about the Jonathan Majors trial
10:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Earlier this year, actor Jonathan Majors was set to become the next great supervillain in the Marvel multiverse.
Now, the breakout star with major roles in films including Creed III and Loki is on trial for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend during an argument last spring and could spend a year in jail if convicted.
Mr Majors, 34, was arrested in March in Manhattan after Grace Jabbari accused him of slapping her, throwing her into the car after she exited it, twisting her arm and grabbing and injuring her hand.
Read more from Andrea Cavallier here.
Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good at court for beginning of trial
08:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Jonathan Majors US Army ads were dropped after arrest
06:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Ads featuring the ‘Ant-Man’ and ‘Creed III’ star were dropped after his arrest in New York
Jonathan Majors’ arrest forces US Army to quickly ‘create new commercials’
Attorneys not to refer to Grace Jabbari as “the victim”
04:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Attorneys in the case are not allowed to refer to Grace Jabbari as “the victim” during the trial, according to CBS News. She can however be referred to as “the victim of X action”.
On Thursday, Judge Michael Gaffey decided that the defence could bring up Ms Jabbari’s prior arrest during the trial, according to a Vulture reporter inside the courtroom.
Ms Jabbari was taken into custody in October after Jonathan Majors filed a cross-complaint against her in June, claiming that she assaulted him. The New York City Police Department authorised her arrest, but the Mahattan District Attorney’s Office ultimately decided not to pursue a case against her.
Watch: Jonathan Majors arrives at New York court ahead of trial
02:00 , Mike Bedigan
Jonathan Majors has arrived in court for opening statements in his misdemeanor assault trial, hand-in-hand with his mother and girlfriend Meagan Good. Jonathan’s sister as well as Meagan’s mother and several friends of the couple have filled the first two rows behind the defense. pic.twitter.com/W437QDzPTa
— Emily Palmer (@emilyepalmer) December 4, 2023
Who is Jonathan Majors?
01:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Mr Majors’s arrest in March came during what was tipped as being the biggest year of his professional career.
In 2023 he had starring roles in Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Creed III and the second season of the Loki TV show, in which he played Kang the Conqueror.
He is also still set to star in the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, although it is unclear if he will remain attached to the project.
Following his arrest he was dropped by his managers and a publicity firm, while Disney-owned Searchlight Features has moved Magazine Dreams from its slate of releases.
Who is Grace Jabbari?
00:23 , Michelle Del Rey
Grace Jabbari, the woman who has accused Jonathan Majors of assault, is a 30-year-old British dancer and movement coach.
She has appeared as a dancer in Barbie, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, A Christmas Carol, and Coldplay’s Cry Cry Cry music video, among other projects.
She’s undertaken a couple of Marvel films as a movement coach, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Ms Jabarri and Mr Majors reportedly met on the set of the Wasp.
She originally hails from Reading, England, a city about 36 miles from London. She graduated with a first class bachelor’s degree from Rambert School and obtained another first class master’s degree from Northern School of Contemporary Dance, according to her biography on her dance company’s website.
She’s performed for artists Florence and The Machine, Damien Rice, and Naeem fka Spank Rock.
She has accused Mr Majors of hitting her in the face, twisting her finger and grabbing her neck. His attorney has denied the allegations.
A timeline of events since Jonathan Majors’ arrest
Monday 4 December 2023 23:23 , Michelle Del Rey
25 March, 2023 — Jonathan Majors was arrested in New York on five misdemeanour charges of assault, harassment, and strangulation after he allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari.
He was handed three counts of assault in the third degree, aggravated harassment in the second degree, three counts of attempted assault in the third degree and harassment in the second degree, per People.
26 March, 2023 — Mr Majors’ attorney releases a statement claiming that he’s innocent and actually the victim of a crime.
“Jonathan Majors is completely innocent and is provably the victim of an altercation with a woman he knows. We are quickly gathering and presenting evidence to the District Attorney with the expectation that all charges will be dropped imminently,” his attorney, Priya Chaudhry, said.
26 March, 2023 — The US Army pulls recruiting advertisements featuring Mr Majors following the arrest.
18 April, 2023 — Mr Majors’ public relations firm reportedly parts ways with the actor.
27 April, 2023 — Judge grants Grace Jabbari a full temporary order of protection against Mr Majors.
9 May, 2023 — Mr Majors appears in court for the first time.
21 June, 2023 — Mr Majors filed a domestic violence complaint against Ms Jabbari.
25 October, 2023 — Ms Jabbari is arrested on charges of assault and criminal mischief. The Manhattan DA’s office ultimately decided not to pursue a case against the woman.
29 November, 2023 — Trial begins.
What are the charges against Jonathan Majors?
Monday 4 December 2023 22:23 , Michelle Del Rey
Jonathan Majors is facing misdemeanor assault and harassment charges for allegedly attacking his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari on 25 March.
New York City police responded to an emergency call at Mr Majors’ Chelsea apartment that morning. They determined he had been involved in a “domestic dispute” with a woman, later identified as Ms Jabbari.
Ms Jabbari told officials that she had been assaulted and was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries to her head and neck. Meanwhile, Mr Majors was detained until he was released without bond later that same day.
If convicted, the actor faces up to a year in prison.
Court proceedings finished for the day
Monday 4 December 2023 21:35 , Michelle Del Rey
Court proceedings in the Jonathan Majors assault trial have ended for the day. The jury is set to arrive tomorrow morning for the continuation of the trial, set to last for two weeks.
Opening arguments happened on Monday morning and only one witness testified in the afternoon.
First witness testifies in trial
Monday 4 December 2023 21:14 , Michelle Del Rey
Ryan Strick, a digital evidence analyst for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, is the first witness to testify in the trial. He created a video compilation of surveillance footage from the area where the alleged assault took place.
The video has been admitted into evidence, according to Vulture.
Some of the discussion during the trial has centered on how photos of iMessages involved in the assault were processed and examined. The analyst said he did not alter the messages.
Witnesses set to take stand in trial
Monday 4 December 2023 20:47 , Michelle Del Rey
Witnesses are expected to take the stand shortly. The driver in the SUV the couple was in during their altercation will be testifying for the prosecution.
Opening arguments in the case happened this morning before the court adjourned for a break.
Defence team hints that Grace Jabbari is seen as the victim out of racism
Monday 4 December 2023 20:30 , Michelle Del Rey
The proceedings are “saturated with explicit and implicit bias”, Priya Chaudry, an attorney for Jonathan Majors, said previously while discussing proceedings, according to a Vulture report.
On Monday, she described her client as the victim in the altercation. She described the actor as “a Black man who found his girlfriend unconscious in his closet, in America, called the police for help” and was arrested when the arrived at his home.
Jonathan Majors demanded ‘total compliance’ from ex-girlfriend
Monday 4 December 2023 20:05 , Mike Bedigan
The court heard that Jonathan Majors held his ex-gifriend Grace Jabbari to impossibly high standards, allegedly telling her that she “needs to live up to the standards of Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King’s wife, and Michelle Obama.”
According to prosecutors, Mr Majors once told her, “I am a great man — a great man” and “demanded from Grace Jabbari total compliance.”
Jonathan Majors engaged in ‘psychological and physical abuse’, court hears
Monday 4 December 2023 19:46 , Mike Bedigan
During opening statements prosecutors alleged that the Marvel star had attacked his former girlfriend Grace Jabbari “to cover up his infidelity”.
Mr Majors engaged in a “cruel and manipulative pattern of psychological and physical abuse” throughout their relationship of two years and used “physical violence against her to manipulate her, control her, and physically hurt her,” Prosecutor Michael Perez told jurors on Monday morning.
Following an alleged row over a text message, Mr Majors “began grabbing at Ms Jabbari’s body. He pulled her right arm behind her back and twisted it … he struck a blow that struck across the right side of her head,” Mr Perez said.
Ms Jabbari suffered bruising, swelling, “substantial pain,” and a broken finger, the court heard.
ICYMI: Who is Grace Jabbari?
Monday 4 December 2023 19:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Grace Jabbari, the woman who has accused Jonathan Majors of assault, is a 30-year-old British dancer and movement coach.
She has appeared as a dancer in Barbie, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, A Christmas Carol, and Coldplay’s Cry Cry Cry music video, among other projects.
She’s undertaken a couple of Marvel films as a movement coach, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Ms Jabarri and Mr Majors reportedly met on the set of the Wasp.
She originally hails from Reading, England, a city about 36 miles from London. She graduated with a first class bachelor’s degree from Rambert School and obtained another first class master’s degree from Northern School of Contemporary Dance, according to her biography on her dance company’s website.
She’s performed for artists Florence and The Machine, Damien Rice, and Naeem fka Spank Rock.
She has accused Mr Majors of hitting her in the face, twisting her finger and grabbing her neck. His attorney has denied the allegations.
Who is on the jury?
Monday 4 December 2023 18:40 , Michelle Del Rey
There are six members of the jury, including two women and two men, and two alternates.
The members were chosen out of a group of 44, which included the Sopranos actor Yul Vazquez. Four of them are people of colour, although no Black men were selected to decide Mr Majors’ fate.
The trial is expected to last for two weeks.
ICYMI: What happened in court last week? Judge clears courtroom of spectators
Monday 4 December 2023 18:20 , Michelle Del Rey
The judge in the Jonathan Majors domestic violence trial cleared the New York public courtroom of spectators on 29 November.
According to Deadline, Judge Michael Gaffey allowed Majors’ lawyers to argue behind closed doors that a piece of evidence that is currently under seal should be taken out of the case permanently.
Seth Zuckerman warned the evidence could “taint the jury pool beyond repair for Mr Majors”, adding that his client may face “trial by newspaper”.
Katherine Bolger, a lawyer hired to represent the press, opposed the move to seal evidence, noting that the public had a right to know the evidence in the case.
Majors is charged with misdemeanours including assault and could be sentenced to up to a year in jail if convicted.
Jonathan Majors appears at court with Bible
Monday 4 December 2023 18:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Jonathan Majors appeared at the court with his Bible, which has been with him ever since the start of the trial, according to a reporter for Vulture.
He also brought a notebook and a cup. Mr Majors was seen taking diligent notes last week during proceedings, particularly jury selection. About 44 panelists were widdled down to six jurours, including two alternates.
Attorney for Jonathan Majors said case is not about a crime committed by her client
Monday 4 December 2023 17:40 , Michelle Del Rey
“We’re not here because of what happened in the car,” Priya Chaudry, an attorney representing Jonathan Majors, said.
“This is the case about the end of a relationship.”
Not “about a crime, at least not one that Mr Majors committed,” she said, according to the New York Post.
During opening statements, the attorney claimed that Grace Jabbari essentially lied to police and blamed the actor for the incident because she was upset about him breaking up with her, disrupting their plans to start a family together.
Judge Michael Gaffey instructed Ms Chaudry to wrap up her remarks.
The court has adjourned until 2.15pm ET.
Attorney for Jonathan Majors begins opening statements by claiming he was assaulted during the incident
Monday 4 December 2023 17:20 , Michelle Del Rey
Priya Chaudry, an attorney representing Jonathan Majors, said her client emerged from the SUV “bloodied” after the couple’s row, forcing Mr Majors to go to a hotel to hide as Grace Jabbari chased him through the streets of Manhattan.
“He was scared of her and ran away from her”, the attorney said according to the New York Post.
“Within minutes the bloodied person goes to a hotel to hide, and the other one goes clubbing for hours,” Chaudhry said, referencing a video of Ms Jabbari apparently partying after the alleged assault took place.
Prosecutors say they’ll provide evidence of other instances of alleged abuse
Monday 4 December 2023 17:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Prosecutors have said that they’ll be providing evidence of other instances of alleged abuse against Grace Jabbari, including incidents where Jonathan Majors allegedly threw household items at a wall and yanked her headphones out while she was running and berated her.
Furthermore, prosecutors say they have a recording of Mr Majors telling Ms Jabbari she needs to live up to the standard of Coretta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr
In the recording, the actor can be heard telling Ms Jabbari, “I am a great man! I am a great man!” according to the New York Post.
The outlet reported that the recording has not yet been entered into evidence.
The defence will start giving their opening statements shortly.
Driver of the car Jonathan Majors was in with Grace Jabbari will testify for prosecution
Monday 4 December 2023 16:55 , Michelle Del Rey
Prosecutors announced during opening statements that the driver of the car the couple was in when their fight broke out will be testifying for the prosecution.
The driver will state that the actor allegedly “threw Grace Jabbari like a football” back into the car after the alleged incident took place, the New York Post reported.
Prosecution gives opening statements
Monday 4 December 2023 16:35 , Michelle Del Rey
Jonathan Majors is guilty of a “cruel and manipulative pattern of psychological and physical abuse that culminated in the end of their relationship,” the prosecution said during opening statements on Monday, according to the New York Post.
The actor hit his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari numerous times on 25 March 2023 after they started fighting over a text message sent to him from someone named “Cleopatra”, the outlet reported Assistant District Attorney Michael Perez as saying in a Manhattan courtroom.
What’s more, the text included a link to the song “Lady” by D’Angelo and said “I wish I was kissing you right now”.
Jury enters courtroom ahead of opening arguments
Monday 4 December 2023 15:59 , Michelle Del Rey
Jury has now entered the courtroom. Opening arguments are expected to commence today. There are six jurors, three women and three men, and two alternates.
Four of them are people of colour, although no Black men were selected.
Judge grants request to dismiss four counts
Monday 4 December 2023 15:36 , Michelle Del Rey
Judge Michael Gaffey has approved a request by the prosecution to dismiss four counts in the case.
The prosecution said that some of them likely would have merged at the end of the trial anyway “due to the nature of the injuries and the facts that we’re alleging in this particular case,” Vulture reports.
The defence team did not object to the request and it was subsequently granted by the presiding judge. There are now three counts in the case, two assault, including one reckless and one inentional, in addition to one aggravated harassment count.
All of the counts are misdemeanours.
ICYMI: What are the charges against Jonathan Majors?
Monday 4 December 2023 15:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Jonathan Majors is facing misdemeanor assault and harassment charges for allegedly attacking his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari on 25 March.
New York City police responded to an emergency call at Mr Majors’ Chelsea apartment that morning. They determined he had been involved in a “domestic dispute” with a woman, later identified as Ms Jabbari.
Ms Jabbari told officials that she had been assaulted and was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries to her head and neck. Meanwhile, Mr Majors was detained until he was released without bond later that same day.
If convicted, the actor faces up to a year in prison.
Jonathan Majors arrives at court for opening arguments
Monday 4 December 2023 14:42 , Megan Sheets
Jonathan Majors has arrived at the New York City courthouse where opening arguments are about to begin in his assault trial.
Photos posted to social media showed the actor dressed in a blue coat and beret as he walked up to the courthouse in lower Manhattan.
He appeared to be accompanied by his girlfriend Meagan Good, as he was during jury selection last week.
What happened in court last week? Judge clears courtroom of spectators
Monday 4 December 2023 11:40 , Rachel Sharp
The judge in the Jonathan Majors domestic violence trial is clearing the New York public courtroom of spectators this afternoon (29 November).
According to Deadline, Judge Michael Gaffey will allow Majors’ lawyers to argue behind closed doors that a piece of evidence that is currently under seal should be taken out of the case permanently.
Seth Zuckerman warned the evidence could “taint the jury pool beyond repair for Mr Majors”, adding that his client may face “trial by newspaper”.
Katherine Bolger, a lawyer hired to represent the press, opposed the move to seal evidence, noting that the public had a right to know the evidence in the case.
Majors is charged with misdemeanours including assault and could be sentenced to up to a year in jail if convicted.
Read more:
Jonathan Majors: Judge in domestic violence trial clears courtroom
Opening statements to begin in Marvel star’s assault case
Monday 4 December 2023 10:37 , Rachel Sharp
Opening statements are set to begin this morning in Marvel star Jonathan Majors’ domestic violence trial.
The actor is on trial in New York City, after he was charged over allegedly attacking his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, back on 25 March.
After the jury was selected last week, the prosecution and defence are expected to deliver opening statements in court on Monday morning.
The trial is expected to last around two weeks.
Opening statements to begin Monday
Friday 1 December 2023 13:15 , Megan Sheets
The jury in Jonathan Majors’ assault trial was chosen on Thursday, paving the way for opening arguments to begin next week.
The Independent will be back to cover the openings on Monday.
Sopranos star dropped from jury pool
Friday 1 December 2023 12:53 , Rachel Sharp
Jury selection began on Thursday, after a panel of 40 were sworn in on Wednesday.
Sopranos actor Yul Vazquez was among potential jurors who were questioned in the courtroom.
But he was cut from the pool whne he said he had doubts about judging another person for fear “that someone would do that to me one day”, The Messenger reported.
A panel of 12 was then selected.
Loki producer explains decision to keep Jonathan Majors in Marvel show after arrest
Friday 1 December 2023 04:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Loki producer explains decision to keep Jonathan Majors in Marvel show after arrest
What are the accusations against Jonathan Majors?
Friday 1 December 2023 01:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Mr Majors is accused of attacking his former girlfriend inside a chauffered car in New York City on 25 March as they rode to his apartment.
The girlfriend has accused him of slapping her, throwing her into the car after she exited it, twisting her arm and grabbing and injuring her hand. Prosecutors say that she was treated at a hospital for minor injuries to her head and neck, which included a cut to her ear.
The alleged victim told officers that she was assaulted and taken to the hospital with “minor injuries to her head and neck” after an alleged altercation inside the vehicle.
Lawyers for Mr Majors claim that it was the former girlfriend who assaulted the actor, and “not the other way around.”
He has been charged with misdemeanour assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault and harassment charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and faces a year in prison if convicted.
In April, the alleged victim was granted a temporary order of protection, which means that she and Mr Majors can not have any contact. The order is still in place.
The alleged victim was arrested on 26 October after Mr Majors in June filed a counter-claim against her. She was charged with assault and criminal mischief in connection to the March incident, according to the New York Police Department.
Mr Majors claimed the “drunk and hysterical” woman caused him pain and bleeding after the alleged assault, according to a sworn affidavit obtained by Insider.
Ultimately, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said it had “declined to prosecute the case...because it lacks prosecutorial merit.”
That matter is now closed and sealed.
‘Sopranos’ actor not chosen in jury selection
Friday 1 December 2023 00:00 , Michelle Del Rey
Actor Yul Vazquez of Sopranos, Severance, and White House Plumbers was dismissed on Thursday during the selection process, according to The Messenger.
The outlet reported Mr Vazquez and fellow actor Mr Majors sharing a moment in the courtroom.
The potential juror showed concern about judging another person saying, “someone would do that to me one day.” Mr Majors apparently responded with a “hmm”.
Jonathan Majors’ attorney asks panelists if they can presume her client is ‘innocent’ as jurors are selected
Thursday 30 November 2023 23:01 , Michelle Del Rey
Priya Chaudhry, an attorney representing Jonathan Majors in the case, reportedly asked the juror panelists if they could “promise that you can presume that Mr Majors is innocent even though he’s a celebrity?” according to the New York Post.
The panelists responded that they could. Six jurors, three women and three men, and two alternates have been chosen for the jury. Four of them are people of colour, although no Black men were selected. Opening statements are set to begin on Monday.
Who is Jonathan Majors?
Thursday 30 November 2023 21:50 , Michelle Del Rey
Jonathan Majors, 34, has starred in movies such as, Creed lll , Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
He’s originally from Dallas, Texas. He received his bachelor’s degree in acting from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. While studying, he appeared in numerous theatre productions, including a production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Mr Majors went on to pursue a master’s degree from Yale University. He later became a part of the Chautauqua Theatre Company in New York before his film career took off.
His first on-screen credit was the ABC miniseries When We Rise.
Mr Majors has been nominated for a Gotham Award in the “breakthrough actor” category and an Independent Spirit Award for “best supporting male,” his biography states.
Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors spotted walking out of courtroom
Thursday 30 November 2023 18:21 , Michelle Del Rey
Jonathan Majors and his girlfriend, actress Meagan Good, were spotted walking out of a Manhattan courthouse together on Thursday afternoon.
The court has adjourned for a lunch break. No jurors have been selected yet and Mr Majors did not make a comment about the allegations while exiting the building.
Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good left hand in hand from his assault trial Thursday afternoon, after a morning of jury selection. No jurors have been selected and he’s made no comment about the allegations. pic.twitter.com/MV2XnkoSLT
— Emily Palmer (@emilyepalmer) November 30, 2023
Prospective jurors sent out to answer questionnaires
Thursday 30 November 2023 17:40 , Michelle Del Rey
Judge Michael Gaffey sent jurors out of the courtroom to answer questionnaires as part of the selection process. They were later brought back in to answer a series of follow up questions.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Majors appears to be taking diligent notes during the jury selection process, Vulture reports.
Judge expected to choose six jurors and two alternates
Thursday 30 November 2023 17:12 , Michelle Del Rey
The group of 40 prospective jurors is expected to be widdled down to six individuals and two alternates. Jury selection is currently underway in a Manhattan courtroom, according to the New York Post.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
