Rapper A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty of firing a gun at a former friend in Hollywood back in 2021. As the jury announced their decision, he expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank y’all for saving my life.” The jury cleared him of two serious felony charges related to the incident.
After the verdict, Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, joyfully embraced his partner, Rihanna, in the courtroom. He had faced a potential 24-year prison sentence if convicted, but he maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Instead of accepting a plea deal that would have given him six months in jail, he chose to fight the charges in court, a choice that ultimately worked in his favor.
During the trial, two-year-old RZA and one-year-old Riot attended some of the proceedings with Rihanna. When the verdict was announced, Rihanna became emotional and hugged the defense team as relief washed over them all.
This verdict comes during a significant time in Rocky’s career. He has exciting projects lined up, including headlining the Rolling Loud music festival in March and appearing in a new film called “Highest 2 Lowest” alongside Denzel Washington. He is also set to take part in the prestigious Met Gala as a co-chair in May.
The case revolved around a conflict with A$AP Relli, Rocky’s former friend. Witnesses claimed that after a quarrel, Rocky fired shots, with one grazed Relli’s hand. However, Rocky’s attorney argued that Relli was lying and painted him as an unreliable witness. They insisted that Rocky had only fired a blank gun as a warning when he saw Relli attacking someone else. They noted that the claim about the prop gun was only brought up as the trial began, which raised questions about its credibility.
Jurors were instructed that if they believed Rocky acted in self-defense or thought he was protecting friends, they could acquit him. The specifics of their reasoning remained undisclosed, meaning they might have believed either that he carried a blank gun or acted out of necessity. Notably, Rocky chose not to take the stand in his own defense during the trial.
The prosecution cautioned the jury to focus solely on the facts, not on Rocky’s celebrity status or his family connections, especially Rihanna’s presence at the trial. They emphasized that everyone must take responsibility for their actions, regardless of personal circumstances.
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