Key Takeaways:
– Manhattan prosecutors aim to reject Jonathan Majors’ time for challenging the guilty verdict in his domestic violence case.
– Majors was found guilty of third-degree reckless assault and second-degree harassment related to a March 25 incident involving his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.
– Majors’ appeal argues insufficient evidence and prosecutor allegations of false claims by Majors of trying to escape Jabbari.
– Jabbari, a British choreographer, testified to other violent encounters with Majors throughout their 19-month relationship.
– The incident resulted in significant professional damage for Majors, including severing of ties by Marvel and Disney.
Manhattan prosecutorial authorities recommend that the trial court dismiss Jonathan Majors’ plea to set aside his guilty verdict, according to recent court filings. The controversial Hollywood actor, aged 34, was found guilty of third-degree reckless assault and second-degree harassment on December 18. These convictions arise from a physical altercation with Grace Jabbari, his former girlfriend, in a private car cruising through Lower Manhattan on March 25.
The Verdict Challenged
Before his April 8 sentencing, Majors appealed to Judge Michael Gaffey of the Manhattan Criminal Court, seeking the rejection of the guilty verdict. Majors maintains that the prosecutors did not provide sufficient evidence to corroborate his harassment conviction. Kelli Galaway, the Assistant District Attorney, urged Judge Gaffey to dismiss Majors’ request in its entirety, countering Majors’ claim about attempting to escape Jabbari.
Galaway examined the trial evidence, writing, “A clear intention is evident. The act of forcefully hauling your partner by their arms, lifting them, and pushing them into the backseat of a car post-assault shows intent to harass, annoy or alarm the recipient.”
The Evidence Laid Bare
The jury was able to corroborate that Majors was guilty of second-degree harassment through ample demonstrable evidence. Majors additionally contested that the testimony given by the private vehicle driver and lone witness, Naveed Sarwar, undercut his reckless assault conviction. Sarwar testified that his initial speculation from the front seat’s audio feed pointed to Jabbari being the instigator.
Galaway argued, “Mr Sarwar hearing a struggle in the backseat, not seeing anything, supports a verdict convicting the defendant of recklessly assaulting Ms. Jabbari.”
A Tumultuous Relationship
During the trial, Jabbari, a British choreographer, testified about their 19-month relationship filled with aggressive incidents. She narrated how Majors reacted violently when she snatched his phone after discovering flirtatious messages to another woman.
The jury was privy to images of injuries sustained by Jabbari that included a fractured finger and an extensive cut behind her ear. They also viewed surveillance footage of the altercation that spilled evidence on to Canal and Centre streets in broad daylight. Jabbari also accused Majors of throwing dinnerware at her during a heated exchange in California the previous year.
The Aftermath
Authorities apprehended Majors the morning following the incident at the couple’s penthouse in Chelsea, following a 911 call upon finding Jabbari injured. In the wake of the incident, both parted ways with Majors opting for a hotel while Jabbari left for a club.
Majors’ legal team tried to depict Jabbari as a volatile party girl in their defense. Text messages from September 2022, also viewed by the jury, showed Majors attempting to coax Jabbari against seeking medical assistance, suggesting another separate assault case.
Career Ramifications
Majors’ flourishing Hollywood career suffered a significant setback due to this incident, subsequently leading to termination by Marvel and Disney from all future projects. Majors’ legal counsel refrained from commenting on this matter.