Tag: Asap Relli

Flacko stands firm while jury selection begins

A$AP Rocky has turned down a plea deal in the 2021 shooting case involving A$AP Relli, opting to proceed with a trial once jury selection is completed. According to Rolling Stone reporter Nancy Dillon, the rapper was offered three years probation, a seven-year suspended prison sentence, and 180 days in county jail if he pled guilty to Count 1. However, Rocky made it clear in court that he would not accept the deal, stating, “I respectfully decline, thank you.”

Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, revealed that they have two witnesses ready to testify that the gun seen in security footage was a prop gun that Rocky carried for security purposes. The rapper’s decision to reject the plea deal was expected, as his lawyer had previously communicated that they were not interested in settling the case.

In a bizarre moment during the hearing, Judge Mark S. Arnold asked about Rocky’s relationship with Rihanna. Rocky’s attorney referred to her as his “common-law wife,” which led to some confusion and objections from prosecutors. The judge ruled that Rihanna can only be referred to as Rocky’s “wife” if they are legally married, which is not confirmed to be the case.

Rocky remains confident in his defense and is prepared to testify if needed.

Rocky to stand trial in October

ASAP Rocky will now stand trial in connection to ASAP Relli’s shooting. Per Hot97, the Harlem rapper’s trial is set for October 21, with two preliminary hearings to be held on June 28 and August 2 by Superior Court Judge Karla Kerlin.

Rocky is being accused of shooting and wounding his former buddy Relli with a semiautomatic handgun in November 2021 outside a Hollywood hotel in Los Angeles.

Although Rocky’s attorney tried to question the sufficiency of evidence for the rapper to stand trial, Superior Court Judge ML Villar declared that there’s in fact enough evidence for the Testing rapper to be tried.

Asap Rocky previously pled not guilty to the charges

Asap Rocky maintains his innocence in Asap Relli’s shooting case, and in fact, says Relli wants him to cash out a check in a “get-rich-quick scheme.”

“Rocky didn’t commit a crime,” Flacko’s attorney Joe Tacopina recently told TMZ. “It was an extortion attempt by a former associate, who threatened to make false criminal accusations if Rocky didn’t pay him.”

He added: “What will become abundantly clear in the upcoming months, based on facts and evidence, is that Rocky is innocent of these charges.”

Rocky was accused of shooting Relli in an argument last November. He was hit with two charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm to which he pleaded not guilty.