A$AP Rocky rejects plea deal as assault trial begins

Rapper A$AP RockyHis real name is Rakim Myers, he appeared in court to begin jury selection in his trial and rejected a plea deal from prosecutors.

The “Praise the Lord” singer is accused of firing a weapon at his ex-boyfriend in 2021 and could face up to 24 years in prison if found guilty.

A$AP Rocky is in a relationship with singer and fashion mogul Rihanna. husband Sharing two sonsAnd RZA and Riot.

On Tuesday, A$AP Rocky appeared in a downtown Los Angeles court for jury selection in his criminal assault trial.

according to APrejected a recent plea offer from Los Angeles County prosecutors.

If the rapper had agreed to the deal, he would have pleaded guilty to one of the two felony charges against him and would have had to serve six months in prison with three years of probation and a seven-year suspended sentence.

However, A$AP Rocky and his legal team rejected the offer, although his attorney, Joe Tacopina, hinted at a key defense strategy during the court proceedings.

Tacopina plans to argue that the firearm in question was a “staple gun,” a non-lethal implement that the rapper allegedly carried for security purposes.

More than 100 potential jurors were called for the first day of Rocky’s trial.

Presiding Judge Mark Arnold shared his plans to seat the jury quickly, with opening statements expected to begin early Wednesday.

Arnold also strictly limits the time attorneys can question potential jurors.

Arnold told potential jurors, “Mr. Myers is an entertainer. His name is A$AP Rocky. His life partner is also an entertainer. Her name is Rihanna. Because Mr. Myers is an entertainer, and he’s famous, it can’t hurt him.” “It cannot benefit him.”

The judge will also allow media coverage in court for the duration of the trial after jury selection.

The charges against Rocky stem from an alleged altercation between him and his childhood friend Terrell Efron on November 6, 2021.

Efron claimed that Rocky shot him in the middle of a heated dispute near a Hollywood hotel. He also claimed that the bullets hit his knuckles.

The incident was reportedly the culmination of a feud between Rocky and Efron.

A preliminary hearing was held in November 2021, where the then-presiding judge, M.L. Villar, ruled that there was sufficient evidence for Roque to stand trial on the charges.

After the rule of Villar, Tacopina He said“We are neither disappointed nor surprised. We expected to go to trial. We were planning to go to trial all along. Rocky will be vindicated when all this is said and done, without a doubt.”

A$AP Rocky’s trial comes at a time when his career is thriving despite his legal troubles.

He was named a celebrity celebrity at the Met Gala in May, and will play a major role in the soon-to-be-released film directed by Spike Lee with Denzel Washington.

However, if he is found guilty, his career could be derailed, and there may be question marks over his achievements.

Meanwhile, Rihanna has yet to appear in court amid her partner’s trial. Her presence in court may attract more attention, but there is little chance of that happening.

Tacopina noted that the “Umbrella” singer is unlikely to appear in court, but their relationship has given the trial much more media attention.

according to Radar onlineAn insider said that Rihanna and Rocky “start fighting all the time because he has no patience for anything.”

The source also said that Rocky’s mood had turned bad, adding that the couple’s sex life had deteriorated following his legal troubles.

The insider claimed: “Before this trial mess, they could barely stay away from each other, but their sex life is non-existent these days. They’re both very stressed out.”

According to the insider, Rihanna was afraid she would become a single mother if Rocky was convicted and had to serve a long prison term. So the prospect of this “absolutely terrified her.”