A$AP Rocky Acquitted: Rapper Emotional After Not Guilty Verdict

A$AP Rocky Acquitted: Rapper Emotional After Not Guilty Verdict

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A$AP Rocky Found Not Guilty on Felony Assault Charge, Hugs Family and Rihanna Following Verdict

On Tuesday, February 18, rapper A$AP Rocky was acquitted of felony assault charges in his high-profile trial, bringing to a close a sensational case that had held the public’s attention.

Image Credit : @FiscalPhenom

The jury found the 36-year-old rapper not guilty on two counts of felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm for an incident involving his former friend and A$AP Mob member, A$AP Relli, in November 2021.

As the initial “not guilty” reading was announced in Los Angeles’ Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, tearful Rocky jumped over the railing to hug his mother, sister, and girlfriend, Rihanna. Overwhelmed with thanks, he addressed the jury and stated, “Thank y’all for saving my life.

Thank y’all for making the right decision.” The judge also thanked the jury for their commitment, saying, “We cannot have jury trials without people like you.”

Rihanna, who had also been present in the courtroom for every trial session, posted her relief on Instagram Stories when she wrote,

“The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by His mercy!” with a praying hands emoji.

The January 29-started trial was all about claims that Rocky shot at Relli with a semi-automatic pistol after a heated fight.

Prosecutors alleged that the fight ensued after tensions between the two increased, with Relli stating that Rocky had become “big-headed” after his success as a solo artist.

The defense for Rocky, however, contended that the gun used was a prop and that Relli’s account was part of a made-up story for monetary purposes.

In closing arguments on February 13, defense lawyer Joe Tacopina highlighted inconsistency in Relli’s testimony, advising the jury, “Everything that doesn’t come from Relli shows you that this is not a real gun.”

In turn, the prosecution asked not to be distracted by Rocky’s celebrity or Rihanna’s appearance in court, with District Attorney John Lewin declaring, “No matter how famous his [partner] is, no matter how cute his kids are. he needs to be treated like any other person.”

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, had rejected a plea bargain and could have received up to 24 years in prison if found guilty. Throughout the trial, Rihanna was a constant presence, frequently in the courtroom with their two young children, RZA, 2½, and Riot, 18 months.

Surveillance video presented in the trial captured the incident leading up to the fight, although the purported gunshots were not present.

Rocky was seen, according to Detective Frank Flores, holding a gun during the altercation, but under cross-examination, he conceded no weapon was ever found. Furthermore, shell casings presented as evidence did not contain fingerprints, further reenforcing the prosecution’s difficulty in building a case.

Relli, who sued Rocky in August 2022 for assault, battery, and emotional distress, alleged he was hit by bullet fragments and received medical attention in New York City. Rocky’s lawyers, however, refuted all claims that Relli’s injuries were inflicted by their client.

After the acquittal, Rocky’s lawyer was relieved, saying in interviews that the rapper was “cool as a cucumber” and ready to continue living his life. “He’s ready to put this behind him so he can enjoy his family,” Tacopina said.

The acquittal is a major triumph for Rocky, enabling him to lay the court case to rest and concentrate on his music, family, and future projects. As the courtroom lashed out in emotion following the verdict, it was obvious that for Rocky, Rihanna, and their friends and relatives, justice had been served.

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