Jury selection begins Tuesday. Jan. 21, in A$AP Rocky’s highly anticipated gun trial. The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, faces two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
The charges stem from a 2021 incident in Los Angeles where he allegedly fired a gun at his former friend, Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli. Rocky has pleaded not guilty.
The trial is expected to last 15 days, with Rocky ordered to appear in court each day. Prosecutors have stated they plan to offer him a plea deal before the trial fully begins.
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Rocky’s defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, argues that the case against the rapper is weak. He pointed out a lack of physical evidence, including no fingerprints or shell casings linking Rocky to the alleged shooting.
“I think if there were things for them to find, they would have found them,” Tacopina told reporters after a pretrial hearing on Jan. 15.
Spotlight on Rocky and Rihanna
The trial has also brought attention to Rocky’s personal life. His relationship with Rihanna, the mother of his two children, was a topic of discussion during a recent pretrial hearing that sparked social media buzz.
At the hearing, Judge Mark Arnold asked whether Rocky and Rihanna were legally married. Tacopina referred to Rihanna as Rocky’s “common-law wife,” but the judge ruled she could only be called his wife if they were legally wed.
Spousal privilege, which prevents one spouse from testifying against the other, only applies to legally married couples.
Tacopina told reporters that Rocky is willing to testify and share his side of the story. However, as jury selection begins, the stakes remain high for the rapper. If convicted, Rocky could face up to 24 years in prison.
