A$AP Rocky has been discovered not responsible on two counts of first-degree assault
The Harlem rapper was charged with assault with a firearm in connection to the alleged November 2021 taking pictures of his former collaborator, A$AP Relli. The incident occurred within the Hollywood space throughout an argument between the 2 artists. He confronted as much as 24 years in jail after turning down a plea deal for 180 days in jail.
Whereas on the stand, Relli testified Rocky pointed a gun at his abdomen and head through the starting of their confrontation earlier than later firing the pictures that grazed his knuckles. He additionally stated Rocky threatened to kill him.
Throughout one essential second within the trial, Relli confirmed he was at a Los Angeles gun vary in a video filmed simply two weeks earlier than the incident. This admission gave a gap for Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, to additional a idea that Relli planted the 2 9 mm shell casings he purportedly discovered on the crime scene after police got here up empty.
Whereas being questioned by deputy district legal professional Paul Przelomiec, nonetheless, Relli was insistent that he didn’t fabricate or plant any proof associated to the case, pointing to the truth that he initially advised police that there have been three or 4 gunshots. “If I planted, [I] would have introduced precisely what I stated [at first],” he stated.
For his half, Rocky claimed he by no means fired any stay bullets, however as a substitute used a “prop gun” that solely shoots blanks to fireplace two “warning pictures” to interrupt up a battle between Relli and A$AP Illz, one other member of the A$AP Mob collective. Nonetheless, the protection didn’t have the alleged prop gun of their possession.
To again up the protection’s declare, Rocky’s longtime good friend and collaborator A$AP Twelvyy was referred to as to the stand, confirming that he noticed Rocky carry a starter pistol on “a number of events,” together with the night time of the incident. Twelvyy additionally testified that Rocky solely fired the gun after Relli began punching Illz.
What’s extra, Twelvyy claimed not solely had Relli began the battle, however he acknowledged the pistol wasn’t actual when Rocky pulled it out. “[Relli] advised [Rocky] to shoot that fake-ass gun,” Twelvyy stated beneath direct examination from the protection.
Rocky opted to not take the stand through the trial, invoking his Fifth Modification proper to not testify.
A$AP Rocky was beforehand arrested in Stockholm, Sweden following an altercation with a person on the street. After spending greater than a month in detention awaiting trial, he was discovered responsible and allowed to return residence to America.