A$AP Rocky couldn’t cover his pleasure upon listening to the jury learn his “not responsible” verdict.
Supply: FRAZER HARRISON / Getty
Going through as much as 24 years of jail time, A$AP Rocky was understandably ecstatic when he was discovered not responsible on Tuesday of firing a handgun at a former buddy, A$AP Relli, on a Hollywood avenue in 2021.
After the jury cleared him of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, the rapper informed the jury: “Thank y’all for saving my life.”
Earlier than the trial started, Rocky turned down a prosecution supply of simply six months in jail, together with probation and different circumstances, if he would plead responsible to at least one rely. As a substitute, Rocky insisted on his innocence and determined to gamble {that a} jury would really feel the identical, which in the end ended up paying off.
When the decision was learn, the excessive feelings within the room had been palpable as Rocky’s longtime love, Rihanna, cried and hugged the protection legal professionals. She attended the trial a number of instances and introduced the couple’s two sons — 2-year-old RZA Athelston Mayers and 1-year-old Riot Rose Mayers — for a few of the closing arguments.
Upon the decision being learn, the rapper instantly appeared behind him and ran to the gallery, hugging a number of family and friends members ready within the stands. He additionally hugged his authorized crew, a few of whom had been wiping tears from their face.
Rocky’s legal professionals and witnesses they referred to as to the stand mentioned Rocky had shot a prop gun that solely fires blanks, which he had been carrying for safety after taking it from a music video set months prior. He allegedly fired it as a warning as a result of Relli was attacking one other member of their crew. The jurors had been informed that regardless of three years passing because the incident, nobody talked about the prop gun to authorities till the day jury choice started.
Supply: FRAZER HARRISON / Getty
They had been additionally instructed that in the event that they discovered that Rocky fairly believed that he or one of many two pals with him that evening had been in imminent hazard of damage, and that he used cheap drive, they may discover the defendant not responsible, in keeping with AP. It wasn’t instantly clear whether or not they reached the decision as a result of they believed he was in truth carrying a prop gun or that he acted in self-defense. They didn’t must agree on their reasoning.
