Darren B. Whitten 
Jussie Smollett, 39, was convicted last Thursday, December 9, of five out of six charges. The Empire actor was convicted of five counts of felony disorderly conduct after staging a hate crime against himself and then filing a police report in 2019.
According to the female juror, who did not wish to be identified, Smollett’s testimony was unconvincing and left the jury certain that he was guilty.
The jury, which was composed of six women and six men, spent a total of nine hours deliberating the evidence to ensure they could prove Smollett’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
As part of the case, the jury heard from Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, two brothers who had allegedly been paid by Smollett to fake a hate crime against him in January 2019.
Attorney Nenye Uche, representing Jussie Smollett, claimed the brothers asked for $1 million each in return for changing their story.
However, there was insufficient evidence to back up these claims, and along with a series of character witnesses, left Smollett’s defense looking weak.
Prosecutor Daniel K. Webb reportedly had a much stronger case against Smollett, according to the juror, who described his style as “methodical.”
Frank Gatson, the creative director, who had worked with Jussie Smollett, allegedly reported the hate crime back in 2019. His name was on the list of witnesses, although he was never called to the stand to give evidence.
The anonymous juror believes a testimony from Gatson might have strengthened Smollett’s case.
Jussie Smollett could face up to 20 years in prison after his convictions. However, many believe it will be surprising to see him receive a prison sentence given the level of offense and the fact the actor has no prior convictions.
Moreover, Smollett’s lawyer, Uche, says that he intends to appeal. He stated: “100% innocent. He’s going to be cleared of all, all accusations on all charges. The verdict is inconsistent. You can’t say Jussie is lying and say Jussie is not lying for the same exact incident.”
He continued: “We are confident in our appellate system. We are confident in our Illinois Supreme Court, and we’re confident that at the end of the day, what’s out there in the news media and in the gossip forums are not going to stand a chance in court.”
The actor can still count on the support of some members of his family. They were often present in court. Empire star Terrence Howard says that he hopes the ordeal is over.
