Related video: Jonathan Majors court date
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Speaking at the trial on Monday, the driver of the black Cadillac that transported Jonathan Majors and Grace Jabbari on March 25 said he thought that the dancer hit the actor in the alleged altercation.
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 that evening to members of the jury.
“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.”
The driver vacated the stand after a brief cross-examination.
Last week, the court learned about text messages relating to an incident in September 2022 which suggested the actor had injured Grace Jabbari’s head and then urged her not to report it to the hospital.
The trial is scheduled to last two weeks.
Key points
Show latest update
Driver said he did not find blood in car
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.
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 18:48
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.
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 18:30
Driver of the car Jonathan Majors and Grace Jabbari used is testifying
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.”
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 18:21
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.”
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 18:00
Court breaks for lunch
The court has taken a break for lunch. The trial should resume around 2.15pm.
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 17:30
Next witness called to the stand
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.”
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 16:57
Woman who went to bar with Grace Jabbari done testifying
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.
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 16:37
Woman who went to bar with Grace Jabbari testifying
A woman who went to a bar with Grace Jabbari after the incident on March 25 is testifying.
The woman, who has been identified only as Chloe and has been described as a blonde, said she ran into Ms Jabbari in Soho.
“She explained to me that she had just gotten out of a moving vehicle and no longer had her phone, wallet, or keys,” the woman said on the stand, according to Vulture.
Ms Jabbari also told the woman that she just found out that Mr Majors “was cheating on her”. The group tried to figure out who would stay where following the alleged altercation. The woman was concerned about Ms Jabbari and Mr Majors going back to the same home.
Chloe then invited Ms Jabbari to a birthday party she was planning on attending with her friends.
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 16:17
Watch: Jonathan Majors arrives at court
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.
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 15:57
Judge issues key ruling on domestic violence expert’s testimony
An expert on domestic violence is scheduled to testify but Judge Michael Gaffey, who is presiding over the proceedings, has issued limitations on what the expert can say.
“The court will not allow testimony that “’false allegations of domestic violece are incredibly rare,’” Judge Gaffey said on Monday.
The expert also cannot testify that “because a person exhibited certain behaviors, that person is a victim of domestic violence”.
The actor was spotted arriving at court earlier this morning with girlfriend Meagan Good.
Michelle Del Rey11 December 2023 15:40