The felony assault trial of rapper A$AP Rocky reached a dramatic conclusion on Friday, as prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered impassioned closing arguments to a tense Los Angeles courtroom. Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of firing two shots at a former friend during a heated confrontation on a Hollywood street in 2021.
In a surprising twist, Rihanna, Rocky’s superstar partner, made a rare court appearance on Thursday, bringing the couple’s two young children. Deputy District Attorney John Lewin suggested this was a calculated move to “manipulate jurors” as they prepared to deliberate.
You are not allowed to consider how this might affect Rihanna and his kids. We are all responsible for our own actions in the world.
John Lewin, Deputy District Attorney
Defense Portrays Accuser as Aggressor and Liar
Rocky’s defense team, led by attorney Joe Tacopina, painted a starkly different picture, casting the alleged victim, A$AP Relli, as the instigator and an unreliable witness. Tacopina highlighted deleted text messages in which Relli appeared to goad Rocky into a physical altercation.
The defense argued that Relli had lied to police and prosecutors, even accusing him of destroying evidence by deleting the incriminating messages. “Anything that crushed him was fake,” Tacopina declared, referencing Relli’s combative testimony.
Prop Gun or Real Firearm?
A key dispute centered on whether the gun used in the incident was a real firearm or a prop picked up from a music video set. The prosecution maintained that if it was indeed a prop, Rocky’s self-defense claim would be invalidated. “Once you decide it’s not a prop gun – and it’s not a prop gun, the case is over,” Lewin asserted.
Tensions Boil Over Between Attorneys
The long-simmering animosity between the two lead attorneys erupted during a break, with Lewin accusing Tacopina of lacking ethics. Tacopina sarcastically retorted, “Ooh, I’m so threatened by you!” prompting Lewin to ominously warn, “Yeah, you should be Joe. You should be.”
As the jury begins its deliberations, the potential consequences for A$AP Rocky are severe, with a conviction carrying a possible sentence of up to 24 years in prison. The trial’s outcome is likely to have far-reaching implications not only for the rapper’s personal life and career but also for the broader intersection of celebrity, the legal system, and public opinion.
