A$AP Rocky couldn’t conceal his pleasure upon listening to the jury learn his “not responsible”verdict.
Supply: FRAZER HARRISON / Getty
Going through as much as 24 years of jail time, A$AP Rocky was understandably ecstatic when he was discovered not responsible on Tuesday of firing a handgun at a former pal, 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 situations, if he would plead responsible to 1 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 have been palpable as Rocky’s longtime love Rihanna cried and hugged the protection legal professionals. She attended the trial a number of occasions and introduced the couple’s two sons — 2-year-old RZA Athelston Mayers and 1-year-old Riot Rose Mayers — for a number of the closing arguments.
Upon the decision being learn, the rapper instantly look behind him and ran to the gallery, hugging a number of family and friends members ready within the stands. He additionally hugged his authorized group, a few of whom have been wiping tears from their face.
Rocky’s legal professionals and witnesses they known 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 have 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.
They have been additionally instructed that in the event that they discovered that Rocky moderately believed that he or one of many two pals with him that night time have been in imminent hazard of harm, and that he used affordable power, they might discover the defendant not responsible, based on AP. It wasn’t instantly clear whether or not they reached the decision as a result of they believed he was the truth is carrying a prop gun or that he acted in self-defense. They didn’t need to agree on their reasoning.