A$AP Rocky has rejected a plea deal in his Hollywood assault case, and the trial began on Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles. The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of opening fire on a former friend and collaborator, Terell Ephron, during a confrontation on November 6, 2021.
Ephron testified last year that bullets grazed his knuckles after Rocky allegedly pointed a handgun at him twice. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Rocky with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, which he has denied.
Rocky’s defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, said the rapper is innocent and will be “vindicated” in court. He plans to call witnesses who can testify that the gun used by Rocky was a “starter pistol” carried as a prop for security reasons.
The trial marks a significant step forward in the case, which has been ongoing since April 2022. The Los Angeles Police Department initially described the victim’s injury as “minor,” but Ephron testified to more serious harm.
As the trial begins, Rocky will face the possibility of conviction or acquittal. His future and reputation remain uncertain, with his partner Rihanna and their two children potentially being impacted by the outcome.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/aap-rocky-rejects-plea-deal-with-6-month-jail-sentence-in-hollywood-assault-case