Philadelphia Front Page News Justice News In Brief: Illinois Supreme Court Overturns Conviction against Jussie Smollett forwarded by Allsides News frontpagenews1@yahoo.com

Philadelphia Front Page News Justice News In Brief: Illinois Supreme Court Overturns Conviction against Jussie Smollett forwarded by Allsides News frontpagenews1@yahoo.com

 

Above: Jussie Smollettc, Actor

On Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned a 2021 disorderly conduct conviction against actor Jussie Smollett on charges related to him faking a homophobic and racist hate crime in Chicago during 2019.

The Details: Smollett falsely claimed two men assaulted him while saying he was in “MAGA country” and tossed a noose around his neck. The hoax led to a search for the perpetrators by Chicago police until they believed the attack was faked. Two men later testified that Smollet paid them $3,500 to stage the attack. Smollett reached a deal with the Cook County State Attorney’s Office, under Attorney Kim Foxx, in which charges would be dropped for community service and the forfeiture of his $10,000 bond. 

For Context: The agreement led to backlash online, including then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel calling it “a whitewash of justice.” Later, a grand jury re-established the charges after a special prosecutor took on the case. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that a special prosecutor should not charge Smollet after Smollet’s charges had already been dropped. 

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Philadelphia Front Page News Justice News Brief: Penn Museum finds remains of girl killed in 1985 MOVE bombing, renewing anger from West Philly community forwarded by KYW Newsradio frontpagenews1@yahoo.com

 

Above: A view of Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia after police, during an armed standoff, dropped a bomb on the headquarters of Black liberation group MOVE, killing five children and six adults, and burning 60 houses to the ground.

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More human remains from the 1985 MOVE bombing have been discovered at the Penn Museum.

After completing a comprehensive inventory of the biological anthropology section, museum officials discovered the suspected remains of 12-year-old Delisha Africa, one of the five children and six adults killed on May 13, 1985, when the Philadelphia Police Department conducted an air strike over the Cobbs Creek headquarters of Black liberation group MOVE during an armed standoff. More than 60 homes in the neighborhood burned to the ground.

In 2021, University of Pennsylvania officials issued a public apology, acknowledging that the institution had kept bones from at least one victim after assisting in the forensic investigation that followed the bombing.

Shortly after that, a box of remains from bombing victims was uncovered at the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office. The city said they had been kept after autopsies were completed.

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Philadelphia Front Page News Justice News Brief: Are the Menendez brothers getting released? What to know about the re-sentencing decision forwarded by USA Today frontpagenews1@yahoo.com

Philadelphia Front Page News Justice News Brief: Are the Menendez brothers getting released? What to know about the re-sentencing decision forwarded by  USA Today frontpagenews1@yahoo.com

 

 

Above: A release from prison is possible Erik and Lyle Menendez

 

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has filed a petition to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez, opening the possibility of parole for the brothers serving life sentences for the murder of their parents.

Gascón unveiled his long awaited decision in the infamous case on Thursday, saying the brothers have "paid their debt to society."

The petition asks the court to resentence the men to 50 years to life on two counts of first-degree murder, according to a copy obtained by USA TODAY. Under California law, they would be eligible for youth parole since they were under the age of 26 at the time of the crime and have already served 30 years in prison.

Now that the district attorney's office has filed the petition, it will go before a judge. If the judge sides with the defense and district attorney, a parole board will evaluate whether the brothers have been rehabilitated and are safe to reenter society.

At a Thursday news conference, Nancy Theberge, deputy in charge of Gascón’s resentencing unit, said she would like to see the petition for resentencing go before a judge within the next 30 to 45 days. She added that the brothers' could attend the hearing either in person or via Zoom.

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Philadelphia Front Page News Justice News Brief: Young Thug released on house arrest for time served as part of plea deal in Georgia RICO case forwarded by Eyewitness News abc7 frontpagenews1@yahoo.com

Philadelphia Front Page News Justice News Brief: Young Thug released on house arrest for time served as part of plea deal in Georgia RICO case forwarded by  Eyewitness News  abc7 frontpagenews1@yahoo.com

  

Above: The trial of Young Thug began almost a year ago.

ATLANTA -- Atlanta Rapper Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffrey Lamar Williams, has accepted a plea deal, changing his plea to guilty on gang-related charges in Fulton County, Georgia.

Williams pleaded guilty in court on Thursday afternoon.

He was sentenced to time served and 15 years of probation and was released on house arrest Thursday.

"Is it your decision to waive these rights and enter a guilty plea because you are in fact guilty?" Superior Court of Fulton County Judge Paige Reese Whitaker asked.

"Yes," Williams said before his attorney interjected on one of the counts.

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