2 months ago
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A$AP Rocky is stepping into the courtroom, as jury selection for his trial begins on January 21.
The Harlem rapper is facing serious allegations, charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in connection with an incident involving a former friend and fellow A$AP Mob member, A$AP Relli, whose real name is Terrell Ephron.
Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, has consistently maintained his innocence. His attorney, Joe Tacopina, emphasized that the rapper is eager to clear his name, stating, “Having this hanging over his head is not something he wants.”
The stakes are high, as the rapper could face up to 24 years in prison if convicted on all charges. The legal proceedings are set to be closely monitored, as Superior Court Judge Mark S. Arnold has permitted video cameras in the courtroom to broadcast the trial.
Judge Arnold expressed his belief that the public deserves transparency regarding courtroom activities. This decision signals that Rocky’s case will be under the spotlight, with fans and critics alike watching closely.
Originally scheduled to begin earlier this year, the trial was postponed until November 12. However, the trial was, once again, delayed at the request of Rocky’s legal team to accommodate the rapper’s headlining performance at the Rolling Loud festival in Thailand that same month.
During the hearing, the judge inquired about the potential presence of Rihanna, the pop superstar and mother of Rocky’s two children. While Tacopina couldn’t confirm if she would be a daily presence during the trial, he suggested she would likely attend sporadically to support Rocky.
The charges stem from an alleged incident in Hollywood back in 2021, where Rocky is accused of luring Ephron to a secluded area and shooting him, resulting in minor injuries. Following the allegations, Rocky was arrested in April 2022, and since then, he has been banned from possessing firearms and from having any contact with Ephron.
English (US) ·