Marvel actor Jonathan Majors has been found guilty by a New York jury of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment.
The verdict was reached after more than four hours of deliberation spread across three days.
Majors, accompanied by his attorneys, stood as the verdict was read, with family members and his girlfriend, Meagan Good, supporting him.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 6th, and Majors could face up to one year in prison for the misdemeanor and violation charges.
However, the jury found Majors not guilty of intentional assault in the third degree and aggravated harassment in the second degree.
In response to the verdict, Majors’ attorney, Priya Chaudhry, stated that he plans to appeal and looks forward to clearing his name.
She expressed Majors’ gratitude for the love and support he has received during this challenging time.
Shortly after the verdict, Marvel Studios decided to remove Majors from their upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe films, where he was set to play Kang the Conqueror.
This decision comes as a consequence of his conviction.
Majors faced four charges, including assault, aggravated harassment, and harassment, following an incident on March 25th when he discovered his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari, unconscious in their apartment.
Police arrested Majors after finding injuries on Jabbari, such as a laceration behind her ear and a bruised and fractured finger.
Majors pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the trial, Jabbari testified that Majors had caused the injuries during an altercation in their car earlier that day.
She claimed that the incident occurred when she saw a text message on Majors’ phone expressing romantic interest.
Jabbari tried to take the phone from him, leading to a struggle where Majors allegedly twisted her arm, struck her head, and grabbed her finger.
The charges related to the altercation in the car were misdemeanors, while the charge of harassment, which involved Majors allegedly throwing Jabbari back into the car, was a violation.
The defense argued that Majors placed her back in the car to prevent her from running into traffic.
Surveillance footage captured this action, although the altercation inside the car was not recorded.
It is important to note that the charges against Majors were brought by the state of New York, not by Jabbari herself.
The trial focused on criminal proceedings and required the jury to find proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt for each charge.
Majors’ arrest has had significant implications for his acting career.
He was dropped by his publicity firm, the Lede Company, and his managers at Management 360.
Additionally, Searchlight Features removed Magazine Dreams from its release calendar, impacting Majors’ professional opportunities.
In response to the guilty verdict, Ross Kramer, an attorney for Jabbari, expressed hope that it would inspire other assault victims to come forward and seek justice.
He commended Jabbari for her strength and resilience throughout the trial.
Prosecutors presented the case as an instance of domestic violence, while the defense questioned Jabbari’s credibility, suggesting it was an act of revenge.
Majors attended every day of the two-week trial, accompanied by Good and family members.
He did not testify during the trial but showed some emotion during closing arguments from his attorney, Chaudhry.
Chaudhry argued that Jabbari was the aggressor in the car, pointing out that Majors’ coat was ripped and that surveillance footage captured Jabbari chasing him down the street after the initial altercation.
She also claimed that Jabbari was uninjured when leaving the car and engaged in “revenge partying” at a club, even using Majors’ credit card.
According to Chaudhry, Jabbari injured herself later that evening after consuming alcohol and taking sleeping pills.
The trial included video surveillance footage, photos of Jabbari’s injuries, and body-camera footage from the responding officers.
Prosecutors also introduced texts exchanged between Majors and Jabbari, which suggested a pattern of abuse.
Majors dissuaded Jabbari from seeking medical attention for an undisclosed injury, fearing it could trigger an investigation.
While Majors’ conviction marks a victory for survivors of assault, it also highlights the prevalence of psychological and emotional abuse in intimate partner violence cases.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized the importance of centering survivors in their work and expressed gratitude to the jury for their service.
As the sentencing date approaches, Majors faces potential consequences for his actions that may impact his personal and professional life moving forward.
