Former Hollywood star Jason Hoganson dies amid assault case

Jason Hoganson, a former Hollywood actor, died on April 4. His ex-partner Rachel Usher died in October 2024 when he was due to face trial for assaulting her. Hoganson had pleaded guilty to assault by beating and breaching a restraining order, with a judge ruling the case should proceed using Usher's statement as evidence.

Jason Hoganson, who played a leading role as a Geordie character called Pete in the 1988 film Empire State, was photographed giving a thumbs up as he walked out of HMP Durham on September 10. He had served half of an 18-month sentence for assaulting his ex-partner Rachel Usher and breaching a restraining order. According to Rachel Usher, Hoganson was released from prison earlier than he should have been. The specific prison early release scheme under which he was freed has not been disclosed.

Hoganson and Usher had been in a relationship for about six years. On September 11, Hoganson ran towards Usher outside her flat and slapped her across the side of her face. Usher described the attack, saying Hoganson was shouting, bawling, and seemed really angry. She added that Hoganson asked her to go somewhere, and when she said no, he got even more angry. The slap during the September 11 attack was powerful and had a lot of force behind it.

In legal proceedings, a judge ruled that the case should proceed using Rachel Usher's statement as evidence. Hoganson claimed he only went to the block of flats where Usher lived to get belongings from a man who lived there. He also claimed the man who could corroborate his story was not in court because he had been having an affair with his ex. Hoganson's death occurred before the scheduled trial, leaving the legal outcome unresolved. The cause of Rachel Usher's death on the day of the planned trial also remains unknown.