Jonathan Majors trial - live: Defence rests after damning Grace Jabbari videos released

The defence rested after Judge Michael Gaffey permitted the release of evidence pertaining to the allegations Grace Jabbari made against Jonathan Majors, including text messages, photographs, footage and a recording of the actor calling himself a “great man”.

The decision was made on Wednesday. The text messages, which are allegedly between Ms Jabbari and Mr Majors show the actor dissuading his ex-girlfriend from going to the hospital following an alleged altercation in September of 2022.

The incident is separate to the one that occurred on March 25, which is at the centre of the trial.

“I fear you have no perspective on what could happen if you go to the hospital,” Mr Majors allegedly said.

“They will ask you questions and as I don’t think you actually protect us it could lead to an investigation even if you do lie and they suspect something.”

In the recording, Mr Majors can be heard telling the dancer he needs a “great woman” similar to Michelle Obama or Coretta Scott King.

The released survelliance footage shows the couple battling on the streets of New York. Judge Gaffey also released the 911 the actor placed on the night of the alleged incident.

The trial was expected to last two weeks but could stretch into a third.

Key points

• Judge releases recording of Jonathan Majors calling himself ‘a great man'

• Judge releases evidence to the public

• Why is Jonathan Majors on trial?

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

06:00 , Michelle Del Rey

The trial, in photos

Grace Jabbari is seen chasing Jonathan Majors after alleged assault in newly released video

04:00 , Michelle Del Rey

Jonathan Majors can be seen tussling with former girlfriend Grace Jabbari before she chases him down a street in New York in newly-unsealed CCTV footage shown in court at his assault trial.

On Wednesday, Judge Michael Gaffey permitted the release of a trove of evidence, including pictures, text messages, photographs and a recording of the Marvel star calling himself a “great man”.

Mr Majors, 34, was arrested in March in Manhattan after Ms Jabbari accused him of slapping her, throwing her into a car after she exited it, twisting her arm and injuring her hand.

Read more here

Grace Jabbari is seen chasing Jonathan Majors after alleged assault in new video

02:00 , Michelle Del Rey

Majors’ texts reveal harrowing incident with Jabbari last year

Jabbari returned to the witness stand for her final day of testimony on Friday.

Prosecutors showed her text messages from September 2022 regarding an unrelated episode while the pair were living together in London. The texts, according to reports, revealed that Majors warned against his then-girlfriend from reporting her head injuries to a hospital.

No further details of the incident were available, as they were precluded from being shown to jurors. However, People reported that a filing alluded to the incident: “medical records from London related to an incident that occurred in September 2022.”

“Did the defendant try to dissuade you from getting medical attention?” a prosecutor asked Ms Jabbari. “Yes,” she replied.

“I fear you have no perspective of what could happen if you go to the hospital,” Majors texted, according to the outlet. “They will ask you questions, and as I don’t think you actually protect us, it could lead to investigation even if you do lie, and they suspect something.”

Read the full story...

Jonathan Majors’ texts reveal harrowing incident with Grace Jabbari in September 2022

01:00 , Michelle Del Rey

ICYMI: Defence’s cross-examination of Jabbari last week questioned her every move

00:00 , Michelle Del Rey

Disney removes Majors movie from release calendar amid assault trial

Walt Disney Studios has removed Magazine Dreams, a forthcoming drama starring Jonathan Majors, from its release calendar amid the star’s newly-scheduled assault trial.

Elijah Bynum’s film about an aspiring bodybuilder (Majors) who struggles to find human connection was originally set to premiere on 8 December. The Independent has contacted Disney for comment.

A New York judge decided this week that the US actor, 33, will face trial on domestic abuse charges after rejecting the defence’s motion to dismiss the case.

In March this year, Majors was accused of attacking his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. Majors has denied the claim and accused Jabbari of attacking him.

Read the full story...

Disney removes Jonathan Majors film from release calendar amid assault trial

Judge releases recording of Jonathan Majors calling himself ‘a great man'

Wednesday 13 December 2023 23:00 , Michelle Del Rey

The judge has released the recording of Jonathan Majors calling himself “a great man”. The actor can also be heard telling the dancer that he needs a woman similar to Michelle Obama or Coretta Scott King. Ms Jabbari can be heard crying as Mr Majors continues his rant.

Closing statements to happen on Thursday

Wednesday 13 December 2023 22:20 , Michelle Del Rey

The prosecution and defence will present their final arguments to members of the jury on Thursday around 10am. Mr Majors did not testify before the defence decided to rest.

Jonathan Majors’ agent called to testify

Wednesday 13 December 2023 21:58 , Michelle Del Rey

Elan Ruspoli is now on the stand, according to Courthouse News.

He is the actor’s manager. So far, he has banged on the witness stand to demonstrate how loudly his client was banging on the locked bedroom door at his Chelsea apartment.

Defence rests in Jonathan Majors case

Wednesday 13 December 2023 21:57 , Michelle Del Rey

The defence has rested in Jonathan Majors’ assault trial, according to Courthouse News. The actor did not testify in the trial.

The doctor is now off the stand

Wednesday 13 December 2023 21:38 , Michelle Del Rey

Doctor Tammy Weiner is now off the stand. Another witness is being called by the defence.

Judge has called a brief recess

Wednesday 13 December 2023 21:10 , Michelle Del Rey

Judge Michael Gaffey has called for a brief recess in the case.

Proceedings should resume shortly.

Emergency room doctor about undergo cross-examination.

Wednesday 13 December 2023 20:48 , Michelle Del Rey

The emergency room doctor is about to undergo cross-examination. She was testifying for the defence. An attorney for Mr Majors asked the medical professional if it was possible to sustain injuries in the way Ms Jabbari has described, according to Vulture, but the judge sustained some of the questions.

Emergency room doctor back on the stand

Wednesday 13 December 2023 19:43 , Michelle Del Rey

The emergency room doctor is back on the stand, according to Vulture.

Dr Tammy Weiner is testifying for the defence.

Court expected to resume soon

Wednesday 13 December 2023 19:23 , Michelle Del Rey

Court is expected to resume shortly.

Proceedings paused for lunch

Wednesday 13 December 2023 18:58 , Michelle Del Rey

The court is taking a break until 2.15pm ET. Proceedings will resume then.

Doctor says she does not see evidence of ‘twisting injury’ to Grace Jabbari’s finger

Wednesday 13 December 2023 18:38 , Michelle Del Rey

Upon reviewing a photo of Ms Jabbari’s finger, Dr Weiner said does “not see any evidence of any type of twisting injury to the hand or other fingers,” she said in court, adding that she’s treated patients whose hands have been twisted and suffered crash injuries, according to Vulture.

Ms Jabbari has said that her right middle finger was injured during the night of the alleged assault.

Judge sustains Jonathan Majors’ attorney’s line of questioning

Wednesday 13 December 2023 18:18 , Michelle Del Rey

Judge Michael Gaffey sustains the line of questioning Mr Majors’ attorney, Priya Chaudhry, had for the witness.

The attorney asked: Is the break in Ms. Jabbari’s finger consistent with your finger being twisted? In your medical opinion, how did Ms. Jabbari sustain this fracture to her finger? How likely is it that the fracture to her finger was sustained by twisting?

Defence calls second witness

Wednesday 13 December 2023 17:58 , Michelle Del Rey

The defence has called a second witness in the case.

Dr Tammy Weiner is an emergency room doctor in Danbury, Conn. She works in a level-2 trauma center, according to Vulture. She said the floor has a “very high level of care”.

The medical professional said she reviewed Ms Jabbari’s medical records and videos from when she and the actor left the car on March 25.

An officer who testified on Tuesday said he noticed the dancer’s middle right finger had been bruised.

Speaking about the pain from a broken or fractured finger, the doctor said, “Even if it was your dominant hand, you’d avoid using it for actions you’d normally use your dominant hand for,” the woman said, according to Courthouse News.

Judge releases evidence to the public

Wednesday 13 December 2023 17:18 , Michelle Del Rey

Judge Michael Gaffey has released evidence to the public, including text messages allegedly sent between Jonathan Majors and Grace Jabbari and photos of the injuries she sustained on the night of March 25.

In the alleged messages, Mr Majors is attempting to dissuade the dancer from receiving medical attention following an alleged incident in September 2022, which is separate to the one at the centre of the trial.

“I fear you have no perspective on what could happen if you go to the hospital,” Mr Majors allegedly said in one message. “They will ask you questions and as I don’t think you actually protect us it could lead to an investigation even if you do lie and they suspect something.”

Detective speaking about Mr Majors making complaint.

Wednesday 13 December 2023 16:52 , Michelle Del Rey

According to the witness, the actor’s attorney walked into the precinct to make the report.

Mr Majors presented himself on FaceTime during that encounter because the actor was not in New York, according to Vulture.

The official quickly underwent cross-examination before being dismissed from the stand.

Defence calls first witness to the stand

Wednesday 13 December 2023 16:18 , Michelle Del Rey

The defence has called their first witness, NYPD Detective Ronnie Mejia, to the stand.

According to Vulture, the official investigated the actor’s complaint against Grace Jabbari.

Defence moves to dismiss the case

Wednesday 13 December 2023 16:02 , Michelle Del Rey

The prosecution has rested and Jonathan Majors’ defence team has moved to have the case dismissed.

The actor’s attorneys have cited an “absence of evidence” in light of the purportedly exonerating testimony of the driver who drove the car the couple used on March 25, the night of the alleged incident, according to Courthouse News.

Jonathan Majors trial continuing this morning

Wednesday 13 December 2023 15:33 , Michelle Del Rey

Jonathan Majors’ assault trial is continuing this morning.

We’re onto the final days of the proceedings. It’s still not clear if the actor will take the stand in his defence.

The court will resume shortly.

Wednesday 13 December 2023 06:00 , Michelle Del Rey

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

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.

Tuesday 12 December 2023 23:19 , Michelle Del Rey

WATCH: Jonathan Majors' Ex Describes Alleged 'Rage' In Court

Proceedings end for the day

Tuesday 12 December 2023 22:13 , Michelle Del Rey

Proceedings are winding down but expect to be back up tomorrow.

It’s still not clear if Jonathan Majors will testify in the case.

On Tuesday, jurors heard testimony from two officers who responded to the alleged incident on March 25 and a trauma expert.

Majors’ defence attorney asks if she knows of anyone who has been traumatised by being falsely accused

Tuesday 12 December 2023 21:30 , Michelle Del Rey

While undergoing cross-examination, an attorney for the actor asked the trauma specialist if she’s aware of anyone being traumatised by being wrongly accused of domestic violence, according to a reporter for Courthouse News.

Trauma therapist called to the stand

Tuesday 12 December 2023 20:25 , Michelle Del Rey

Court proceedings have now resumed.

Josie Torielli, a trauma specialist, has been called to the stand to testify.

She’s expected to be the last witness to take the stand on Tuesday.

Last witness expected to take the stand today

Tuesday 12 December 2023 20:01 , Michelle Del Rey

The last witness is expected to take the stand today.

It’s not clear who the witness is or whether Jonathan Majors will testify before the trial ends.

Jonathan Majors leaves courtroom with Meagan Good

Tuesday 12 December 2023 19:18 , Michelle Del Rey

The actor was spotted leaving the courtroom on Tuesday with girlfriend Meagan Good.

Proceedings are expected to resume around 2.15pm ET

Court now on break

Tuesday 12 December 2023 18:26 , Michelle Del Rey

The court is now taking a break until 2.15pm.

Court proceedings will resume around that time.

So far, the court has heard testimony from two officers that responded on the night of the alleged incident and Grace Jabbari’s manager.

Manager describes what happened after night of alleged incident

Tuesday 12 December 2023 18:06 , Michelle Del Rey

The officer is describing what happened on the night after the alleged incident.

He said the pair left the hospital, got food and went to Soho House, a members’ club in New York.

Jabbari was very shaken up, he said according to Vulture. The two then tried to find a suitable time to go back to Mr Majors’ apartment and pack up her stuff.

Grace Jabbari’s manager on the stand

Tuesday 12 December 2023 17:46 , Michelle Del Rey

Grace Jabbari’s manager, Ben Totty, is now testifying.

“Grace was basically half the person I’ve seen before...upset, devastated,” he said during direct questioning, according to Courthouse News.

He described Jabbari as not being very verbal after the alleged incident, but she showed him the injury behind her ear, which he said appeared to have been glued.

Mr Totty is the founder of Box Artist Management.

Grace Jabbari told officers she was ‘struck in the head several times'

Tuesday 12 December 2023 17:26 , Michelle Del Rey

The second officer testifying in the trial has said that he went over to talk to Grace Jabbari, who was in the closet at the time, and was speaking to other officers as well.

The officer said the dancer told him “she was struck in the head several times and that he defendant had grabbed her by the throat”, according to Vulture.

He then went under cross-examination. He said he didn’t observe blood anywhere else in the apartment. He also did not observe vomit.

Second officer testifying in the trial

Tuesday 12 December 2023 17:06 , Michelle Del Rey

A second officer is testifying in the trial.

He said the police were initially called to the apartment because “a female had overdosed and try to commit suicide,” according to Vulture.

The officer said he did not see any evidence of that. The official said he did observe a small amount of blood on the comforter when he turned to look at the night stand.

Officer went under cross-examination

Tuesday 12 December 2023 16:45 , Michelle Del Rey

The responding officer went under cross-examination.

He said he couldn’t remember what Grace Jabbari wore the night of the alleged altercation.

The officer was then pressed for more details about the incident, including whether Ms Jabbari indicated that she took sleeping pills but he said he did not recall. The officer said he did not see any vomit or blood in the apartment when asked.

Jury watching body camera footage from night of March 25

Tuesday 12 December 2023 16:22 , Michelle Del Rey

The jury is now watching officer body cam footage.

In the video, Ms Jabbari is seen on the floor of Mr Majors’ Chelsea apartment. The officer said the dancer was complaining about being in pain. “I noticed the middle right finger was very bruised”, he said according to Vulture.

Ms Jabbari had mentioned her ear and the back of her head, the officer said.

Police who responded to the alleged incident is on the stand

Tuesday 12 December 2023 15:46 , Michelle Del Rey

A police officer who responded to the alleged incident in March is on the stand testifying, according to Vulture.

Based on the official’s account, Grace Jabbari looked “confused” and “dazed”.

She asked: “How did I get here?” The officers attempted to explain the situation, the outlet reported, and she asked if Mr Majors was still in the apartment.

Tuesday 12 December 2023 11:19 , Michelle Del Rey

ICYMI: Grace Jabbari asks not to watch body-cam footage

Ms Jabbari returned to the courtroom pleading not to watch the body-cam footage from the night of the alleged incident.

“Do I have to?” she asked.

The video was played for her again, before it was shown to the courtroom.

According to The Daily Beast, Ms Jabbari sobbed as it played. In the video, officers are seen speaking to her from inside a closet in Mr Majors’ Manhattan apartment.

“I was trying to sleep and I got sick,” Ms Jabbari is heard saying in the footage.

Tuesday 12 December 2023 08:00 , Michelle Del Rey

Who is Jonathan Majors?

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.

Watch: Jonathan Majors arrives at court

Tuesday 12 December 2023 06:00 , Michelle Del Rey

The actor was spotted at court on Monday with girlfriend Meagan Good.

The assault trial is resuming on Monday following testimony last week when jurors heard about text messages between Mr Majors and Grace Jabbari, which suggested the actor had injured her head and then urged her not to report it to the hospital.

Tuesday 12 December 2023 02:19 , Michelle Del Rey

Recap: What happened last week?

On Thursday, attorneys for Majors played zoomed-in footage of the shoving incident for the first time, arguing that it undermined Jabbari’s testimony that her head slammed into the doorframe when she was thrown back into the car.

“There were multiple pushes, multiple injuries,” Jabbari replied. She has accused Majors of having a “violent temper” that culminated in her assault in the backseat of a moving car, an incident that was not captured on video.

Defence attorneys also played surveillance footage from a Manhattan nightclub that aimed to cast doubt on Jabbari’s claims she suffered “excruciating” pain and injuries during the alleged assault.

The grainy footage showed Jabbari in the hours after the incident dancing and drinking with a group of three strangers who she said offered to help after finding her distraught and without her phone on the streets of Manhattan.

Not wanting to be alone, Jabbari said she accompanied the group to a nightclub called Loosie’s, where she ordered a bottle of champagne and a round of shots with her new friends.

As she played a compilation of video clips from inside the club, an attorney for Majors peppered the accuser with questions about how she was able to use her injured hand for tasks like lifting a champagne glass, rifling through her bag, or brushing locks of hair behind her ear.

“I wasn’t focusing on pain. I was just trying to have a nice time,” Jabbari replied. “There were these lovely people there and I felt safe with them.”

Tuesday 12 December 2023 02:10 , Michelle Del Rey

Jabbari’s testimony reveals how she felt during her relationship with Majors

“It felt like I was walking around on eggshells,” Ms Jabbari said last week. “I had to be perfect.”

Ms Jabbari said the actor threatened suicide more than once; Majors allegedly pleaded that she not tell anyone about his temper. She said she “feared him physically quite a lot.”

On Friday, text messages came up during cross-examination that appeared to show Majors admitting to wounding Jabbari’s head in a separate incident in September 2022. According to the messages, Mr Majors threatened to commit suicide if she reported her injuries to the hospital.

“He said he was a monster,” Jabbari said. “He wanted to kill himself, and he put actions in place to do so.”

Trial winding down for the day

Monday 11 December 2023 22:02 , Michelle Del Rey

Monday’s proceedings are winding down.

Two witnesses, a doctor that treated Grace Jabbari and a driver who was in the car the couple used, testified in court.

The trial has now entered its second week. Judge Michael Gaffey said proceedings were meant to last two weeks.

Doctor has been dismissed from the stand

Monday 11 December 2023 21:24 , Michelle Del Rey

The doctor who was testifying in the case has been dismissed from the stand, according to a report from Vulture.

Doctor says Grace Jabbari’s assessment would indicate she’s ‘at risk’ for alcohol abuse disorder

Monday 11 December 2023 21:06 , Michelle Del Rey

The doctor who treated Grace Jabbari on March 25 said that an assessment she took would indicate that she’s “at-risk” for alcohol abuse disorder, according to Vulture.

Ms Jabbari previously said she had three to four alcoholic drinks a night and would have more than six drinks in one sitting monthly.

The doctor made the comments during cross-examination, which has now ended.

Attorney for Jonathan Majors asking doctor about Grace Jabbari’s injuries

Monday 11 December 2023 20:44 , Michelle Del Rey

Priya Chaudhry, an attorney for Jonathan Majors is asking the doctor how Ms Jabbari broke her finger.

He told the court that the dancer said she did not know how she sustained her injuries when asked by medical personnel. The woman also did not tell officials she was struck in the back of the head when she went to the hospital.

The doctor continued by saying there was no evidence of cauliflower ear on Ms Jabbari or apparent scratches on her face.

Doctor testifying about Grace Jabbari’s injuries

Monday 11 December 2023 20:20 , Michelle Del Rey

The doctor who treated Grace Jabbari after the alleged incident is now discussing the different injuries she sustained on March 25.

According to Vulture, William Chang, said the dancer had a fracture in her finger and a cut behind her ear. The cut was closed with skin glue, he told the court.

The medical professional was asked what the injury might’ve stemmed from.

He said it could have been from her “being hit in the ear, or hitting a sharp object.”

Driver said he did not find blood in car

Monday 11 December 2023 18:48 , Michelle Del Rey

The driver of the car used by Jonathan Majors and Grace Jabbari said he did not find blood in the backseat following an alleged altercation on March 25 between the former couple.

The man, identified as Mr Sanwar, made the comment during cross-examination.

Driver of the car Jonathan Majors and Grace Jabbari used is testifying

Monday 11 December 2023 18:21 , Michelle Del Rey

The driver of the car used by Jonathan Majors and Grace Jabbari on the night of the alleged incident is testifying in the trial.

He’s been identified only as Mr Sanwar. His employer is said to be a private black car service.

Through an Urdu interpreter, the driver said he recalled the dancer demanding to see the actor’s phone. “The girl became very angry... the boy wanted to get rid of the girl and he opened the door,” the driver said, according to Courthouse News.

“He was trying to get rid of her,” he continued. “He was saying ‘leave me alone. I have to go’”.

The driver added: “He was not doing anything, she was doing it”.

He continued describing the evening to jurors.

“When the earlier happening, I had a feeling the girl had hit the boy...because of the way that she was fighting, and the sounds produced.”

Seth Zuckerman, an attorney for Mr Majors, cross-examined the driver, asking him, “Did you ever find any blood in your vehicle after that night?” and “Did you ever see at any point that night Mr Majors being in the third row of the vehicle.”

Court breaks for lunch

Monday 11 December 2023 17:30 , Michelle Del Rey

The court has taken a break for lunch. The trial should resume around 2.15pm.

Next witness called to the stand

Monday 11 December 2023 16:57 , Michelle Del Rey

Max Manning, a client service associate at Morgan Stanley, has been called to the stand. He’s been identified as Chloe’s boyfriend.

During cross-examination, attorneys for Jonathan Majors asked Mr Manning if he noticed any injuries on Ms Jabbari from the alleged incident on March 25.

He said he did not. The attorney then asked if she complained about any injuries. He responded: “I can’t remember that part but not specifically.”

Woman who went to bar with Grace Jabbari done testifying

Monday 11 December 2023 16:37 , Michelle Del Rey

Chloe, the woman who said she went to a bar with Grace Jabbari the night of the incident, is done testifying.

A new witness will be taking the stand shortly.