Special prosecutor rests case against Jussie Smollett at actor’s trial for allegedly staging and reporting phony hate crime
CHICAGO — The team of special prosecutors handling the case against actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly orchestrating and reporting a phony hate crime against himself rested its case late Thursday on the fourth day of Smollett’s trial.
The prosecution, led by veteran attorney Dan Webb, rested its case in chief after calling seven witnesses over three days. After returning from a dinner break, the jurors were informed that the prosecution was finished calling witnesses.
Moments earlier Judge James Linn denied a defense motion for a directed finding of not guilty.
The prosecution’s key witnesses — two brothers who told the jury Smollett directed them to participate in a bogus attack — wrapped up their testimony earlier Thursday. It is alleged that Smollett planned the episode for attention from runners of his television show “Empire,” which has since been canceled.
The second of the two brothers who accuse Smollett of staging the incident took the witness stand and told jurors that he never was able to put
