A$AP Rocky has been acquitted of two felony assault charges related to an altercation with his former friend and fellow rapper A$AP Relli in 2021. The jury delivered its verdict on Tuesday, February 18, after deliberating for hours.
The prosecution had argued that Rocky fired a semi-automatic handgun at Relli during the altercation, while the defense claimed that Relli was fabricating the story to gain attention and profit from it. However, the jury ultimately sided with the defense, finding Rocky not guilty of both charges.
Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, claimed that his client was carrying a prop gun in the incident, and that Relli had lied under oath about the events leading up to the altercation. The prosecution team countered that there were inconsistencies in Relli’s story and that the gun was likely not a prop.
The trial began on January 29, 2024, with Rihanna attending several sessions to support Rocky. The pop star expressed gratitude for the jury’s verdict on Instagram, writing “The glory belongs to God and God alone!” and thanking him for making the right decision.
Rocky faces up to 24 years in prison if found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. However, he turned down a plea deal from prosecutors and opted for a jury trial instead. The verdict marks a major victory for Rocky and his team, and is seen as a vindication of his innocence.
Source: https://people.com/asap-rocky-found-not-guilty-felony-assault-trial-verdict-11681492