A$AP Rocky Trial at Critical Juncture as Rihanna and Sons Attend Court

LOS ANGELES (AP) — As closing arguments unfolded in the assault trial of rapper A$AP Rocky, with Rihanna and their two young children present in the courtroom, the prosecution posed a crucial question: “Was it a real gun or was it a fake gun?” Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec asserted that this query was central to determining Rocky’s culpability in the alleged incident.

The trial centers around an altercation involving Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, and his former friend, reported to have occurred in November 2021. Przelomiec urged jurors to find Rocky guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, defending that the evidence would lead to such a conclusion.

In contrast, Rocky’s defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, argued that the firearm in question was a prop gun used on a television show featuring Rihanna, capable of firing only blanks. He deemed the key prosecution witness “an angry pathological liar” who allegedly committed multiple instances of perjury.

Rihanna made a notable appearance in court on February 13, bringing their two sons, 2-year-old RZA and 1-year-old Riot, dressed in suits. As the proceedings unfolded, the children were heard cooing, with Rihanna attending to one of them in an effort to keep him quiet.

Prosecutor Przelomiec contended that Rocky intentionally fired at the victim, stating that the altercation stemmed from their prior friendship within the A$AP Mob before escalating into a dispute outside a Hollywood hotel.

Throughout the trial, both sides focused heavily on the characterization of evidence. The prosecution’s narrative illustrates Rocky as having deliberately aimed at the victim, while the defense presented the incident as an act of warning with a prop gun. Witnesses for the defense, including A$AP Twelvyy, confirmed that no live rounds were involved.

The defense maintained that no tangible evidence of a real gun exists, with Tacopina insisting that the prosecution’s arguments are supported by shaky testimonies. He also referred to the hand injuries reported by the victim as minor scrapes, inconsistent with being grazed by a bullet.

Despite the absence of substantial physical evidence, the argument surrounding the possible sentencing loomed large. If convicted, Rocky faces a sentence of up to 24 years in prison. However, it was emphasized in court that jurors were not to be briefed on the potential penalties before reaching a verdict.

As the trial progresses, the defense’s closing arguments are slated for February 14, followed by prosecutor rebuttals, leading directly into the jury’s deliberation process. Talented widely across the music and fashion industries, A$AP Rocky’s legal woes cast a shadow over his personal and professional life.