A$AP Rocky Rejects Plea Deal as Assault Trial Begins

Rapper A$AP Rocky, whose actual identify is Rakim Mayers, appeared in courtroom for the start of jury choice at his trial and rejected a plea deal from the prosecution.

The “Reward the Lord” crooner is accused of firing a weapon at his former buddy in 2021 and will resist 24 years in jail if discovered responsible.

A$AP Rocky is in a relationship with singer and trend mogul Rihanna. The pair share two sons, RZA and Riot.

On Tuesday, A$AP Rocky appeared in a courtroom in downtown Los Angeles for jury choice in his felony assault trial.

Based on AP, he rejected a last plea provide from the Los Angeles County prosecutors.

If the rapper had agreed to the deal, he would have pleaded responsible to one in every of two felony prices towards him and needed to serve six months in jail with three years probation and a seven-year suspended sentence.

Nonetheless, A$AP Rocky and his authorized staff turned down the provide, although his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, hinted at a key protection technique through the courtroom proceedings.

Tacopina plans to argue that the firearm in query was a “starter pistol,” a non-lethal prop the rapper allegedly carried for safety functions.

Over 100 potential jurors have been summoned on the primary day of Rocky’s trial.

The presiding choose, Mark Arnold, shared his plans to seat a jury shortly, with opening statements anticipated to start as early as Wednesday.

Arnold can be strictly limiting the time attorneys can query potential jurors.

Arnold advised the possible jurors, “Mr. Mayers is an entertainer. His identify is A$AP Rocky. His life accomplice can be an entertainer. Her identify is Rihanna. As a result of Mr. Mayers is an entertainer, a celeb, that can’t hurt him, and it can not profit him.”

The choose will even permit media protection in courtroom all through the trial’s period after jury choice.

The fees towards Rocky stem from an alleged altercation between him and his childhood buddy, Terell Ephron, on November 6, 2021.

Ephron claimed Rocky fired a gun at him amid a heated dispute close to a Hollywood resort. He additionally claimed that the bullets grazed his knuckles.

The incident reportedly marked the fruits of a feud between Rocky and Ephron.

A preliminary listening to was held in November 2021, the place the then-presiding choose, M. L. Villar, dominated that there was sufficient proof for Rocky to face trial on the costs towards him.

Following Vilar’s ruling, Tacopina said, “We’re not dissatisfied, not stunned, we anticipated to go to trial, we have been planning for trial all alongside. Rocky goes to be vindicated when all that is stated and achieved, with out query.”

A$AP Rocky’s trial is coming at a time his profession is flourishing regardless of his authorized troubles.

He was named as one of many superstar chairs of the Met Gala in Might and can play a significant position in a soon-to-be-released Spike Lee-directed film with Denzel Washington.

Nonetheless, if discovered responsible, his profession may get derailed, and there may very well be query marks about his achievements.

In the meantime, Rihanna has but to seem in courtroom amid her accomplice’s trial. Her presence in courtroom may result in much more consideration, however there’s a low likelihood of that taking place.

Tacopina indicated it’s unlikely for the “Umbrella” singer to make a courtroom look, however their relationship has given the trial rather more media consideration.

Based on Radar Online, an insider stated Rihanna and Rocky had “began combating on a regular basis as a result of he is simply obtained no endurance for something.”

The supply additionally stated that Rocky’s temper had change into horrible, including that the couple’s intercourse life had deteriorated following his authorized troubles.

The insider claimed, “Earlier than this mess with the trial, they might hardly hold their off one another, however their intercourse life is nonexistent today. They’re each simply too careworn.”

Based on the insider, Rihanna feared turning into a single mom if Rocky was convicted and needed to serve a prolonged jail time period. Therefore, the potential of that taking place “completely terrified” her.