Actor Jonathan Majors’ domestic violence case will go to trial Aug. 3, a Manhattan judge said Tuesday, casting him to star in a real-life courtroom drama and possible thriller as his idled Hollywood career has been interrupted at its peak take-off due to the domestic violence allegation.
Known for his recent iconic roles in Creed III and Antman, 33-year-old Majors’ is accused of twisting a woman’s arm, striking her head and shoving her into a vehicle in New York City in March. He is charged with several misdemeanors, including assault, and could be sentenced to up to a year in jail if convicted. However, his lawyer stands on the premise that he is in fact, innocent.
According to the Associated Press, Tuesday’s hearing was his first time in court since just after his March 25 arrest in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. He appeared by video at a brief hearing in the case last month where prosecutors announced they had revised the assault charge to reflect the perspective of Majors’ accuser. A police officer’s account was used in the original version.
Majors’ legal team, and his lead lawyer Priya Chaudhry, had been pushing to have the actor’s charges thrown out, contending that the given evidence contradicts the allegations, and police and prosecutors have shown racial bias toward Majors – a Black man.
Before scheduling Majors’ trial, the judge issued a sealed decision that prompted Chaudhry to withdraw court papers she’d filed challenging the case. Judge Pauley handed copies of her ruling to Majors’ lawyers and prosecutors but did not discuss any details in open court.
Judge Rachel Pauley who Majors’ stood in front of on Tuesday, final words were “best of luck” as she scheduled his trial. “Yes, ma’am,” Majors answered.
