Smollett trial begins with Osundairo brothers center stage

CHICAGO (AP) — Jussie Smollett is going connected proceedings this week, accused of lying to constabulary erstwhile helium reported helium was the unfortunate of a racist, homophobic onslaught successful downtown Chicago astir 3 years ago.

Jury enactment for the proceedings got underway connected Monday.

The cheery Black histrion known for his relation connected “Empire” told constabulary successful January 2019 that 2 masked men attacked him.

He was charged weeks aboriginal with filing a mendacious constabulary study aft investigators concluded helium had staged the attack.

That lawsuit was dropped but aboriginal revived erstwhile a peculiar authoritative charged Smollett with disorderly conduct. The histrion has pleaded not guilty.

The proceedings volition boil down to the question of whether the assemblage believes the actor's mentation of what helium says was a racist and homophobic attack, oregon jurors whitethorn judge the 2 brothers who accidental they helped the histrion fake the incident.

Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo admit they took portion successful the “attack” that made headlines astir the satellite but accidental Smollett planned the full happening and paid them to bash it.

In a way, the brothers volition beryllium connected proceedings arsenic overmuch arsenic Smollett, with beauteous overmuch the full prosecution lawsuit hinging connected whether jurors judge them, The Associated Press reports.

The proceedings is expected to past a week.