'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A$AP Rocky has declined his final plea offer on the first day of trial on Tuesday, January 21, according to which he could spend 180 days behind bars. This step exposed him to the possibility of spending 24 years in jail if convicted in the case surrounding the alleged firearm assault.
According to Rolling Stone, the rapper's lawyer also claimed that he did not have a loaded semiautomatic pistol on him, and instead only possessed a prop gun on the day of the alleged assault.
Trending
For the unversed, A$AP Rocky allegedly shot at A$AP Relli, a former friend, in November 2021. The rapper was detained in Los Angeles in 2022 when the investigation about the 2021 shooting happened. As a result, the rapper was charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As per a January 21 article by Fader, Relli had also filed a defamation suit against Rocky and his attorney. During a pre-trial hearing, Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold mentioned that he aims at seating the jury as early as possible. As reported by the Associated Press, Arnold further said:
"I will let the jurors know that regardless of who a defendant is, whether they’re the richest person in the world or the poorest person, everybody is to be treated the same."
The judge also confirmed that filming while the trial would be in process, was permitted. The Fader also reported that the court was likely to reach a verdict in the case within 15 days.
Exploring more about the assault case against A$AP Rocky
As aforementioned, the incident surrounding the alleged shooting took place on November 6, 2021. As per reports by The Fader, a video capturing parts of the incident was presented last year, during a preliminary hearing of the assault case. The footage, however, did not capture the actual shooting.
The defense lawyer claimed that he would call witnesses to testify that the gun shown in the footage, was a prop gun. It was reported that the shooting took place on the corner of Selma Avenue and Vista Del Mar Avenue in Hollywood.
According to reports, the scuffle between A$AP Rocky and Relli allegedly began at a parking space a block away. Attorneys Jamal Tooson and Brian Hurwitz claimed that Rocky called Relli there to talk about a disagreement that the duo had. They further accused the rapper of possessing a semi-automatic handgun then. The lawyers added:
"After arriving at the location, a conversation ensued whereby without provocation, warning, or any justification, A$AP Rocky produced the handgun and intentionally fired multiple shots at Mr. Ephron."
Defense lawyer Joe Tacopina claimed that Nelli and his team only had financial motives behind the legal case. Questions about Rocky's status with Rihanna were also asked by the judge on the first day of the trial. According to Tacopina, A$AP Rocky was unlikely to involve Rihanna in the legal proceedings as he seemed quite "protective" of her.
