Photo: Getty Images
Jussie Smollett took the stand for a second day in his trial in Chicago yesterday.
During his testimony, the former “Empire” actor said brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who testified last week that Smollett hired them to stage a hate crime against him, had asked him for $1 million apiece to change their story and "go away.”
The shakedown accusation was made earlier in the trial, but this was the first time in came directly from Smollett.
Smollett also admitted changing his description of his attackers from 'white' to 'pale' under cross-examination from the special prosecutor.
When asked if the brothers were his attackers, Smollett said, "No, I don’t know. There's no way for me to know that."
While he was on the stand,Jussie snapped at the prosecutor for using the N-word while reading his texts aloud in the courtroom.
The defense rested its case after Smollett spent a total of around eight hours on the stand over two days.
The jury is expected to start deliberating after closing arguments today.
Smollett could get a maximum sentence of three years for each of the six counts, but since he has no criminal record, experts expect Smollett to be sentenced to community service if he is found guilty.
Source: Daily Mail.
Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images.