The rapper A$AP Rocky 36, singer’s boyfriend Rihanna appeared in court in Los Angeles last Tuesday (21), where he pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault using a semi-automatic firearm .
The allegations refer to an alleged incident in November 2021, in which he allegedly attacked his then friend, Terell Ephron known as A$AP Relli.
During the hearing, prosecutor Paul Przelomiec informed Judge Mark S. Arnold that he offered a plea deal for rapper whose real name is Rakim Mayers. The proposal included 180 days in prison, if he pleaded guilty to one of the charges in addition to three years on probation, a suspended sentence of seven years, 480 hours of community service and participation in a treatment aimed at managing emotions, lasting one year.
On the other hand, if found guilty during the trial, Rocky could face a sentence of up to 24 years . The prosecutor stated that he intends to request between 10 and 12 years in a closed regime.
When asked by the judge if he had discussed the deal with his defense, Rocky, who has sons RZA and Riot with Rihanna, responded: “Yes, they explained it to me in detail, Your Honor. I respectfully decline, thank you.”
The judge then stated: “You will not receive any special treatment. Your status as an artist or as a partner of Rihanna will not be taken into consideration, whether for or against you. Are you aware that if you are convicted you will be imprisoned and there is a strong possibility that you will receive a significant sentence?”
Rocky confirmed: “Yes, Your Honor, I am aware.”
Still at the hearing, the musician’s defense lawyer argued that Rocky did not have a firearm on the night of the incident. but rather a scenographic weapon. The defense also argued that Terell Ephron had fabricated the alleged shooting and the allegations of superficial wounds to extort money from the artist.
According to the lawyers, the rapper often carried a firearm as a protective measure, due to “previous violence” and home invasions by stalkers. To support the allegation, the defense plans to rely on the testimony of A$AP Twelvyy (Jamel Da’Shawn Phillips), who was present at the time of the alleged confusion, and a Rocky tour manager.
Both must testify in favor of the artist. However, the prosecution criticized the defense strategy, claiming that the “toy gun” thesis was presented only on the eve of the trial.
Prosecutor John Lewin stated: “It is a completely new defense that has never been mentioned. This is a complete trap. We are not talking about a minor witness; this is their entire case, based solely on the testimony of this witness.”
The judge decided not to exclude the statements, but warned the defense: “I don’t think it’s fair that you waited so long to reveal the scenographic pistol if this is central to your defense.”
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This content was originally published on A$AP Rocky could face a sentence of up to 24 years after rejecting a plea deal on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
