By Alice Redpill
Is a rhinestone hoodie about to take A$AP Rocky out?
A$AP Rocky’s criminal assault trial has officially commenced, setting the stage for what could be a dramatic legal battle ahead.
Rihanna’s man faces serious allegations of assaulting his former friend, A$AP Relli, with a semiautomatic weapon. Adding to the tension, Rocky previously turned down a plea deal that would have resulted in a 180-day prison sentence. Now, he’s bracing for the possibility of facing up to 24 years in prison. Which raises questions about what’s at stake as the trial progresses.
Amid the court drama, reports emerged regarding concerns from Rocky’s team about the jury pool’s racial makeup, noting that out of 106 potential jurors, only five were Black. As the trial unfolds. The reasons behind A$AP Rocky’s rejection of the plea deal are likely to come to light as well.
In a particularly revealing moment, Tacopina read aloud a series of text messages he claims were sent by Terrell Ephron, a.k.a. ASAP Relli, the individual Rocky is accused of shooting.
“Relli told his friend that A$AP Rocky was a ‘piece of sh*t,’ and that ‘I’m gonna beat this n***a up,’” Tacopina recounted. He added, “That’s funny. They showed you a lot of text messages…I didn’t see that one,” highlighting the selective nature of the evidence presented by the prosecution.
According to Burns-Tucker. Prosecutors allege that in November 2021, an altercation took place in Hollywood between A$AP Rocky and Relli. Relli is said to have felt that Rocky failed to cover expenses for the funeral of another A$AP Mob member, Josh. The tension allegedly escalated. Prosecutors claimed that Rocky pulled out a semiautomatic gun and fired twice in Relli’s direction. Resulting in Relli suffering grazed knuckles. As the proceedings move forward; it’s interesting to note that dozens of Los Angeles police officers were summoned to the scene, yet no evidence of a shooting was reported at the time.
By the evening’s end, Relli found shell casings, which could develop the case further. Despite the expected importance of the surveillance footage. Lawyers say, its clarity remains in doubt as it fails to clearly depict A$AP Rocky or Relli during the incident. (Looks pretty clear to us.) Lawyers also argue that you CAN tell who is in the video by their clothing. Is a rhinestone hoodie about to take Rocky out?
Rocky’s lawyer claims there’s no forensic evidence tying the rapper to the shooting, and the lack of eyewitnesses may affect the trial’s outcome. LmA$AP Joe Tacopina, Rocky’s attorney, contended that the weapon was a self-defense prop gun. Meanwhile, the prosecution presented evidence, including shell casings linked to a Glock 43, leading to a delay in the trial for the defense to review these findings.
Although Rihanna was not in court, on Thursday, January 23, during jury selection. One day before lawyers delivered their opening statements, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin asked one prospective juror, a woman, if she would be able to deliver a guilty verdict to the defendant if Rihanna, was present in court.
“What if Rihanna comes here to court, is it going to be hard for you to look over there and see the defendant’s family and deliver a guilty verdict?” Lewin asked the woman. Reported by the Associated Press. According to the news outlet, the woman took a long pause before answering “yes.” Rihanna, who started dating Rocky in late 2019, has been relatively silent about her partner’s legal troubles. Still, she has remained by his side.
As we look ahead to the upcoming proceedings. Anticipation builds around Officer Thomas Zizzo Jr., one of the first LAPD officers dispatched to the scene of the alleged 2021 incident, according to TMZ. When he takes the stand, all eyes will be on his testimony regarding the details he observed upon arrival. As the son of Erika Jayne from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Zizzo’s insights could offer significant clarity as this case unfolds.
The media’s presence, closely tracking every development, has significantly shaped the trial beyond just the legal arguments. A particularly controversial moment arose when A$AP Rocky forcefully pushed photographers aside as he made his way into the courthouse.
As scrutiny around jury selection intensifies, A$AP Rocky’s legal team is preparing for potential ramifications, and it will be crucial to observe how these factors influence the trial as it progresses. The unfolding events could prove to be “harmful” to Rocky’s defense, setting the stage for a much-anticipated courtroom drama.
