Jonathan Majors trial – live: Sopranos star axed from jury pool

Marvel star Jonathan Majors has finally gone on trial in New York City, after he was accused of attacking his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, in a car back on 25 March.

Ms Jabbari 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.

Majors has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been supported in court by his current girlfriend Meagan Good as the trial got under way.

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.

Opening statements are now expected to begin on Monday morning. Majors faces up to one year in prison if found guilty.

Key Points

• 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

Opening statements to begin in Marvel star’s assault case

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.

‘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.

A timeline of events since Jonathan Majors’ arrest

Thursday 30 November 2023 22:55 , 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.

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.

What are the charges against Jonathan Majors?

Thursday 30 November 2023 21:02 , 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.

Who is Grace Jabbari?

Thursday 30 November 2023 19:06 , 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.

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.

Opening statements to begin on Monday

Thursday 30 November 2023 18:08 , Michelle Del Rey

Opening statements in the Jonathan Majors trial are set to begin on Monday, Judge Michael Gaffey announced during proceedings on Thursday.

Court watchers previously expected opening statements to start on Thursday.

Meanwhile, jury selection continues.

One potential juror, an actor who works on a TV show, said he has “serious problems” with anyone who commits violence against women, according to the New York Post.

“You do with that information what you will,” he said, before stating that he would be fair during the trial.

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.

Judge asks jurors if they could put Grace Jabbari footage aside

Thursday 30 November 2023 16:55 , Michelle Del Rey

According to Victoria Bekiempis, a reporter for Vulture, prospective members of the jury were asked by Judge Michael Gaffey if they would be able to put aside footage of Grace Jabbari dancing at a club after the alleged assault and only consider evidence presented.

Some of them responded that they could not.

The remarks came after the judge asked the panelists if they were familiar with the case. Several members of the group said yes in response.

Jury selection underway

Thursday 30 November 2023 16:31 , Michelle Del Rey

Prospective jurors entered the courtroom on Thursday around 11.00am. There were initially 40 candidates for the jury pool, according to online reports.

A few panelists raised their hands and said they knew of the actor when Jonathan Majors bowed in their direction, according to Emily Palmer, a reporter for People.

Judge Michael Gaffey was heard asking the prospective jurors if they had any medical issues that would prevent them from serving on a jury for two weeks.

Prosecutors from the Manhattan DA’s office previously said they needed at least six days to present their case.

Attorneys not to refer to Grace Jabbari as “the victim”

Thursday 30 November 2023 16:11 , 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.

Courtroom reopened to press following ruling on evidentiary issue

Thursday 30 November 2023 15:59 , Michelle Del Rey

The courtroom has opened back up to the press following a ruling on an evidentiary issue. Judge Gaffey did not provide details on the ruling, according to Victoria Bekiempis, a reporter covering the trial for Vulture.

Mr Majors appeared to be smiling and one of his attorneys looked pleased with the decision. The actor’s bible was spotted on the defense table.

Courtroom to close while judge issues ruling on evidentiary evidence

Thursday 30 November 2023 15:40 , Michelle Del Rey

Judge Michael Gaffey has stated that he will be closing the courtroom while issuing a ruling on evidentiary evidence out of fear of tainting the jury pool, according to Victoria Bekiempis, a reporter covering the trial for Vulture.

Mr Major’s attorneys requested on Wednesday that the courtroom be closed while the judge issues the ruling, arguing that releasing the information to the public via the press could deny Mr Majors of a fair trial.

Judge Gaffey agreed, stating he would issue a ruling on what was discussed during the closed hearing on Thursday, CBS News reported. As a result, the press will not be allowed into the courtroom while those discussions take place.

Still, it’s not clear if that ruling will be made public.

Evidence deemed permissible will be made public once introduced at trial, the outlet reported.

Jonathan Majors arrives at court New York courtroom with Meagan Good

Thursday 30 November 2023 15:23 , Michelle Del Rey

The actress Meagan Good has arrived at a Manhattan courtroom to support her boyfriend, Jonathan Majors, for a second time this 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. Judge Michael Gaffey is expected to decide on the admissibility of evidence this morning ahead of jury selection.

Ms Good has starred in several films, including Deliver Us from Eva, Roll Bounce and Stomp the Yard.

Jonathan Majors US Army ads were dropped after arrest

Thursday 30 November 2023 14:00 , Graeme Massie

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’

Loki producer explains decision to keep Jonathan Majors in Marvel show after arrest

Thursday 30 November 2023 11:00 , Graeme Massie

Loki producer explains decision to keep Jonathan Majors in Marvel show after arrest

What are the accusations against Jonathan Majors?

Thursday 30 November 2023 09:01 , Graeme Massie

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.

Who is Jonathan Majors?

Thursday 30 November 2023 07:03 , Graeme Massie

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.

Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good at court for beginning of trial

Thursday 30 November 2023 04:10 , Graeme Massie

Prosecutors and defence laywers banned from using ‘victim’

Thursday 30 November 2023 02:29 , Graeme Massie

The judge in the case has banned prosecutors and defence lawyers from describing either party as a “victim” during jury selection, known as voir dire in the US legal system.

“Nobody’s the victim on voir dire,” the judge announced during Wednesday’s hearing. Selection of a jury from a pool of 40 people will begin at 10am on Thursday.

Jonathan Majors: Judge in domestic violence trial clears courtroom of spectators

Thursday 30 November 2023 01:01 , Graeme Massie

Marvel star is on trial for alleged misdemeanour assault and harassment.

Jonathan Majors: Judge in domestic violence trial clears courtroom

Trial to resume on Thursday

Wednesday 29 November 2023 23:01 , Graeme Massie

The judge told the jury pool to be back in court at 10am ET on Thursday when jury selection in the case will take place.

40 potential jurors brought into court

Wednesday 29 November 2023 22:32 , Graeme Massie

A group of 40 potential jurors were brought into court and sworn in by the judge, who gave them Mr Majors’s name and instructed them to not research the case or to watch coverage of it.

“You can’t Google, FaceTime, Twitter — which I guess is now called X,” he said, reported Deadline.

“You can’t do any Internet searches, social media searches, absolutely anything you can think of that I haven’t mentioned … you cannot do.”

Court done for the day

Wednesday 29 November 2023 22:16 , Graeme Massie

Judge Michael Gaffey, who closed his court for an hour of legal arguments, says that he will rule on a defence motion to keep some evidence out of the trial at 10am on Thursday.

Mr Majors left the courthouse in New York City by a side door and did not make any comment to waiting members of the press.

Judge will clear courtroom for legal argument

Wednesday 29 November 2023 19:46 , Graeme Massie

The judge in the case plans to clear the public courtroom of spectators during the afternoon so lawyers can argue about the admission of a piece of evidence, which is currently under seal.

Judge Michael Gaffey will allow Mr Majors’ lawyers to argue that the information, which has been described as “likely to be prejudicial and inflammatory”, out of the case.

Jonathan Majors’s assault trial gets underway

Wednesday 29 November 2023 19:22 , Graeme Massie

This is a live blog covering the Jonathan Majors assault trial in New York City.