ASAP Rocky's Assault Trial Moves Forward with Opening Statements

ASAP Rocky‘s highly publicized assault trial is officially underway following the completion of jury selection. Proceedings began today (January 24) with opening statements from both sides. LA County Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec presented the prosecution’s case first, followed by the rapper’s defense attorney, Joe Tacopina. Each side outlined the evidence they plan to use to support their arguments throughout the trial.

During his opening remarks, Tacopina referenced a series of text messages allegedly sent by ASAP Relli, the man Rocky is accused of shooting at. “Relli told his friend that Rocky was a ‘piece of sht,’ and that ‘I’m gonna beat this n**a up,'” Tacopina stated, highlighting messages he claims the prosecution overlooked. “That’s funny. They showed you a lot of text messages,” he added. “I didn’t see that one.” This revelation is just one of several significant updates emerging from the trial.

Concerns Over Jury Representation

Earlier this week, reports surfaced indicating dissatisfaction from Rocky’s legal team regarding the racial makeup of the jury pool. Out of 106 potential jurors, only five were Black, raising concerns for the defense. “We’re in downtown Los Angeles. Not a small town in Montana. We’re troubled by that, to say the least,” Tacopina remarked. However, Judge Arnold dismissed these concerns, stating, “There’s no authority that requires any particular percentage of any ethnicity on a jury.”

Rejected Plea Deal and Career Concerns

Rocky also made headlines for rejecting a plea deal offered by prosecutors. The proposed agreement included pleading guilty to one count of assault in exchange for a 180-day jail sentence, three years of probation, and a seven-year suspended prison sentence. The rejection of the deal stirred controversy, with reports claiming prosecutors advised Rocky’s family that he should have accepted it.

According to sources cited by TMZ, Rocky declined the offer due to concerns about the potential impact on his career. “This would effectively end his career because he would lose all of his endorsement contracts, including Gucci, Puma, the Met Gala, and, most importantly, he would not be able to tour,” an insider reportedly stated. “They would have him under their thumb for over eight years.”

As the trial continues, more developments are expected to emerge, shedding light on the high-profile case and its potential ramifications for the rapper’s future.