A$AP Rocky’s lawyers are seeking favorable jurors in his trial, which hinges on charges that he fired a gun at a former friend. Nearly 100 potential jurors have been called into the Los Angeles courtroom, but concerns remain about the small number of Black jurors, with only 5% of summoned jurors identifying as African American.
Lawyers argue that the geographic area from which jurors are drawn is 9% African American, yet no Black jurors were selected in the first round. The defense claims this discrepancy raises doubts about the fairness of the jury pool and has filed an appeal to challenge the judge’s rejection of their motion for a hearing.
In response, Assistant District Attorney John Lewin emphasized that the jury selection process was not biased but raised concerns about potential bias in the group itself. The judge declined to pause the trial for the appeal, allowing prosecutors to continue questioning jurors on issues like their support for Rihanna and whether they believe convicting Rocky could affect her.
Rihanna was not present during the proceedings, but Rocky’s former friend Terell Ephron testified that their relationship had soured due to a perceived feud. Rocky, who remains on bail and has denied the charges, is seated in a black suit as jury selection continues.
The trial is expected to last another week or two, with potential witnesses still being called into court. Meanwhile, Rocky continues to promote his work, including appearing at the Met Gala and starring in a Spike Lee film featuring Denzel Washington.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/asap-rocky-shooting-trial-d9f6a5e3aef85bfdc954ff56cc173849