A$AP Rocky’s trial starts with clash over ballistics report

A$AP Rocky, the famous hip-hop star and actor, is currently facing a trial where his former friend, A$AP Relli, is set to be the star witness. The trial began with opening statements on Friday, with Rocky facing two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, sat in the courtroom on Friday wearing a grey suit and dark glasses. His mother and sister were present to show support, but his long-time partner Rihanna was not in attendance. Despite being a high-profile celebrity, it is unlikely that Rihanna will appear in court during the trial.

The trial got off to a rocky start with a heated argument over a last-minute ballistics report from the prosecution. Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, argued for a trial delay but was ultimately denied by the judge. The defence plans to paint Relli as a money seeker and highlight that he has sued Rocky in civil court seeking financial damages for the incident.

Rocky took a significant risk by turning down a plea deal offer of six months in jail and opting to go to trial instead. If convicted, he could face up to 24 years in prison. The defence plans to call witnesses to testify that the firearm seen in a security video was a starter pistol used as a prop for security.

Rocky and Relli were once part of a group of young creators in New York called A$AP, but their relationship soured over time. The alleged shooting incident occurred on November 6, 2021, when Relli claims Rocky fired at him and grazed his knuckles. The defence will argue that no shell casings were found at the scene and that no gun was recovered by the police.

In addition to Relli, the prosecution’s witnesses will primarily be the police who worked on the case and surveillance video footage of the incident. Rocky has been named as one of the celebrity chairs of the Met Gala in May and has a major role in an upcoming Spike Lee-directed film with Denzel Washington. However, a conviction in this trial could potentially upend his life.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the trial, Rocky may choose to take the stand and testify in his defense. The outcome of the trial remains to be seen, but it is clear that both Rocky and Relli’s lives will be forever changed by the events that transpired on that fateful day in November.