A$AP Rocky, who has been charged with shooting a friend several times in a standoff, will start his trial today and is facing up to 24 years behind bars.
The rapper, who has two children with pop superstar Rihanna, has pleaded not guilty and claimed he was spotted with a prop weapon.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayer, has been charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm for a 2021 incident in Hollywood.
Rocky, 36, allegedly shot his former school friend A$AP Relli in a car park near the W hotel in Hollywood in November 2021.
Relli, whose real name is Terell Ephron, once belonged to the same rap collective as Rocky, called A$AP Mob.
It is claimed the pair’s relationship had started to break down and they met that night to iron out their differences.
Relli claimed this meeting went sour when Rocky allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband and shot at his former friend three or four times, grazing his knuckles.
The alleged victim went to the cops two days later with shell casings.
Parts of the alleged standoff were caught on CCTV but no fingerprints were found on the casings.
Also, the gun was never retrieved by police.
Despite this, Rocky’s lawyer has claimed the weapon was a prop gun which could not fire real ammunition.
On Tuesday, Rocky turned down a plea offer of a six-month jail term, with a seven-year suspended sentence, and three years of probation.
A$AP Rocky supported by mom Renee and entourage ‘bigger than Kardashians’ but not Rihanna as shooting trial begins
He now faces up to 24 years in prison if found guilty.
The trial is expected to start in a Los Angeles courtroom around 8.30am local time (4.30pm GMT).
Rocky’s lawyers are expected to paint Relli as a money seeker and point out that he has sued Rihanna’s boyfriend in civil court.
“He’s the witness that this case will rise and fall on, for sure,” Rocky’s lead attorney Joe Tacopina said.
“Whether he’s a star is something that remains to be seen.”
“There’s jealousy obviously, and he’s made that clear. He became a hater,” Tacopina added.
“This is in large part about money, money, money.”
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Rocky’s superstar girlfriend Rihanna is not expected to appear at his trial.
Tacopina previously told Rolling Stone at an earlier hearing, “Rocky is very protective of Rihanna and prefers to keep her away from this matter.”
Despite this, the rapper showed up to court this week with a huge entourage, including his mom Renee Black, sister Erika, security guards, and at least one personal assistant.
An eyewitness told The U.S. Sun on Wednesday: “He turned up with his entourage in two blacked-out SUVs, which were often in a no parking zone with the engine running.
“It was like the president was in court, even the Kardashians were more laid back. Rocky meant business.”
