Los Angeles: A judge ruled on Monday that A$ AP Rocky has sufficient proof to stand trial for the 2021 shooting death of a former friend and colleague on the roads of an American hotel.
After hearing about one and a half days ‘ worth of testimony from two testimony, Superior Court Judge M. L. Villar issued the decision at pleading reading. Rocky has entered a not guilty plea to two misdemeanor counts of semiautomatic weapons abuse. Rocky did not appear to respond to the ruling.
The 35-year-old singer, fashion magnate, and two-time Grammy nominee is dating Rihanna, with whom he has two young children.
If found guilty of all costs, he could spend up to 24 years in prison, according to the prosecution.
According to Villar,” the entirety of the picture and testimony” demonstrates that there is enough proof for the defendant to stand trial. She emphasized that the standard of proof at primary hearings is significantly lower than at a test.
Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, stated outside of court,” We’re certainly disappointed, not surprised, we expected to go to trial, and we’ve been planning for test all along.” When all is said and done, Rocky is going to be vindicated, without a doubt.
Terell Ephron testified that he and Rocky, a childhood friend, had belonged to the same group of musicians and artists at their New York high school on the first day of the reading, which was resumed on Monday after much pause.
He claimed that their marriage had begun to deteriorate, which led to the Hollywood conflict on November 6, 2021, in which Rocky allegedly pulled a gun on him and then fired shots that touched Ephron’s knuckles.
Before passing judgment, Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec told the judge that all that was needed was Mr. Ephron’s evidence alone. He also added that the incident was captured on surveillance video, which” corroborates exactly what Mr.”
There are some real issues with the evidence of the complainant, Tacopina retorted, adding,” I think there’s not enough facts.”
A pair of 9 mm shell casings in officers hands were recovered by Ephron, who returned to the scene about an hour after the conflict, according to Tacopina’s information during questioning a police inspector earlier on Monday. Seven officers who searched the street and road about 20 minutes after it was alleged that the shots were fired found no evidence of the shooting.
Tacopina watched the officers ‘ body camera footage as they spent about ten minutes searching the area. Two weeks after reporting the incident to the police, Ephron turned over the shell casings, which the inspector claimed were devoid of any recollectible fingerprints.
Two gunshots can be heard, but no one is first visible, according to a video that the prosecution played nearby. A man next sprints around a corner before slowing down to walk. Although the boy’s identity is unclear from the video, LAPD Detective Frank Flores testified that Rocky is who he claims to be.
When Rocky was the subject of a research permit, Flores testified that no 9 mm handgun was found.
Prosecutors displayed a still from surveillance video and two images from the same picture, both of which showed the face of the man wearing the sweatshirt but no noticeable weapons. Torres testified that they determined it was Rocky because of the images.
Tacopina pressed the policeman on the tool, claiming that officers had no way of knowing whether it was a packed or even real weapon, while also representing Donald Trump in his legal case in New York.
That weapons, or whatever it was, was n’t put to the test, am I correct? Tacopina enquired. Torres remarked,” No, it was never recovered.
You’re never sure if it’s an functional cannon or a non-operable weapons, or whatever, Tacopina enquired.
I ca n’t tell you whether it’s operable without having it, the detective retorted.
Tacopina questioned why Ephron waited until he got back to New York to get medical help in an effort to cast doubt on the minor injuries to his side.
He bitterly remarked,” It’s a wonder he survived that shooting,” while showing the policeman the picture of the scraped fingertips.
The prosecutor reprimanded him, telling Tacopina to modify his voice a number of times.
In the case, Rocky was detained at Los Angeles International Airport in April and charged in August. He spent the weekend at the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix engine competition, where he played a significant role as Puma’s artistic director in the clothing company ‘ partnership with F1. He entered the court on Monday night wearing an all-black coat, glasses, and face helmet.
He has n’t released much music in recent years, but he is better known for being Rihanna’s romantic partner, fellow fashion influencer, and co-parent, with whom they had a second son in May. His earliest two studio songs, released in 2013 and 2015, both placed at the top. 1 on the 200 Billboard.
When questioned outside of court about whether Rocky did invite Rihanna, who was absent from the initial trials, to his trial, Tacopina said,” He would not subject his family; he wants to protect them. He’s handling it like Rocky might handle things.
When Rocky was imprisoned after a fight in Sweden in 2019, then-President Donald Trump claimed he was trying to free the singer and getting him back to the United States. At trial, he was found guilty of assault, but was only given a” conditional sentence” —no more time in prison.