A$AP Rocky trial: Former friend A$AP Relli testifies, Rihanna attends court
The trial of A$AP Rocky, who is accused of shooting a former friend in 2021, is currently taking place, with key witness Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, testifying this week.
The trial commenced on January 24 and is expected to last three weeks. Ephron has taken the stand to recount the events of the night in question.
During his cross-examination on Thursday, Ephron displayed signs of impatience as Rocky’s defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, questioned him. The judge intervened, calling for a 10-minute break so both sides could explain courtroom etiquette to Ephron.
Before the recess, Ephron exclaimed towards Rocky, “You did this to yourself!” prompting Judge Mark Arnold to remind him not to speak to the defendant.
Tacopina questioned Ephron about his social media activity, specifically Instagram posts showcasing a lavish lifestyle. Ephron responded, “I don’t understand how you’re judging me based on my Instagram.”
The attorney also attempted to dispute Ephron’s earlier claim that he stayed off social media following backlash from the incident and questioned the narrative that public criticism led to his financial struggles.
“You’re showing my Instagram while I’m receiving death threats!” Ephron replied during the cross-examination.
A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, faces two felony charges for assault involving a semiautomatic firearm. He could face up to 24 years in prison if found guilty. This trial follows his 2019 conviction in Sweden, where he spent more than a month in jail for assault.
Rihanna, Rocky’s longtime girlfriend, appeared in court on Thursday, according to reports from The Associated Press and Rolling Stone. She sat between Rocky’s mother and sister, dressed in a fitted white shirt, a long black tie, and gold earrings, while attentively observing the proceedings.
Rocky, who shares two young children, RZA and Riot Rose, with Rihanna, began his trial on January 21, having deferred it from its original date of November 12, 2024.
Rihanna attends court as A$AP Relli gives testimony against A$AP Rocky
When Ephron took the witness stand on Wednesday to discuss the alleged shooting, Rihanna was seen seated next to Rocky’s family in the courtroom, marking her first public display of support for him since the legal issues surfaced.
Ephron detailed how Rocky allegedly fired a gun, noting the moments captured on surveillance video.
“It felt like a movie; he pointed the gun down and fired the first shot,” Ephron recounted. “I felt heat on my hand, so I grabbed (Illijah Ulanger, also known as A$AP Illz) to shield myself.”
Ulanger, who was reportedly with Rocky, was described by Ephron as “terrified” and “screaming no, no, no.”
“I initially thought he shot three or four times, but after seeing the video, I’ve come to believe only two shots were fired.”
A$AP Relli recounts alleged shooting by A$AP Rocky, claims hand was ‘grazed’
Previously, Rocky has claimed that what he had was not an actual firearm but a starter pistol—a prop gun with no live ammunition. However, on Wednesday, Ephron insisted, “It was a real gun.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Rocky’s attorney Tacopina stated he was unable to present the actual gun as evidence in court.
Ephron testified that when he returned to the scene following police inquiries, he discovered two shell casings. Tacopina had previously questioned Ephron’s assertion that he found evidence overlooked by law enforcement.
A$AP Relli’s testimony indicates A$AP Rocky ‘lies frequently’
On Tuesday, Ephron told the jury that he and Rocky were once part of the same artist collective in New York known as A$AP, which stands for Always Strive and Prosper.
Ephron said their friendship had deteriorated as Rocky gained fame; he claimed Rocky often ignored his messages, and when he brought it up, he was dismissed as “emotional.”
The conflict began, as Ephron recounted, when he overheard Rocky making disparaging comments about him during a phone call. When they met the next day, Ephron alleged Rocky brandished a semiautomatic handgun, pressing it against his stomach and head.
“He lies frequently,” Ephron said during his testimony, mocking Rocky by referring to him as “Mr. Six Month Man,” since he only encountered him every half-year.
Reasons behind A$AP Rocky’s trial
Rocky is charged with firing two shots toward Ephron following an argument in Hollywood, California, in November 2021. He pleaded not guilty to the weapons charges in January 2024.
In November, during a preliminary hearing where testimony and surveillance evidence were presented, a Los Angeles judge determined there was sufficient evidence for Rocky to stand trial.
The trial poses complications for the Harlem-born artist, who shares two sons with billionaire entrepreneur Rihanna, ages 2 and 1.
“We’re ready to proceed. This has been lingering for a while,” said Tacopina after a January 15 hearing, as reported by The Associated Press. “It’s been a weight over Rocky, Rihanna, and their family for some time. We’re eager to resolve this and move forward.”
It’s uncertain what effects this situation may have on his career, as Rocky is preparing to release his long-awaited fourth studio album, “Don’t Be Dumb,” and is set to appear in the film “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” starring alongside Rose Byrne, with a release scheduled for this month. Furthermore, he will feature in Spike Lee’s upcoming film “Highest 2 Lowest” along with Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and Ice Spice later this year, according to his IMDb listing.
A$AP Rocky turns down plea deal, lawyer to present ‘prop gun’ defense
Rocky declined a final plea deal from Los Angeles prosecutors on January 21. The deal would have resulted in 180 days in county jail, along with three years of probation, a year of anger management, and 480 hours of community service, according to Rolling Stone. The proposal also included a suspended seven-year sentence, which would not have been enforced immediately.
if certain probation conditions were fulfilled) but would have left Rocky with a felony conviction, impacting his travel possibilities, as reported by the outlet.
What Does the A$AP Rocky Footage Show?
Rocky is accused of shooting a former friend following a dispute near a Hollywood hotel on November 6, 2021.
Authorities state that the argument intensified, resulting in Rocky “discharging a handgun” at Ephron, as noted in a tweet from the LAPD in April 2022.
Ephron received medical care for minor injuries, as confirmed by police. It was reported that Rocky and two other individuals fled the scene on foot.
During the court proceedings in November, a video was presented showing a group of men, with two recognized by officials as Rocky and Ephron, engaged in a verbal dispute, according to The Associated Press.
A video shown by prosecutors at a preliminary hearing in November included sounds resembling two gunshots, followed by a man sprinting around a corner and then starting to walk. The exact identity of the man remains uncertain; however, a detective from the Los Angeles Police Department indicated that their investigation determined it was Rocky.
The footage displays a figure, whose face is obscured, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and appearing to wield a firearm, as reported by AP. An image from the video captured the man’s face while the gun was not in view. The detective explained that this depiction helped investigators conclude that the suspect was the famed rapper, according to the outlet.
What Charges Is A$AP Rocky Facing?
Rocky is confronting two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in his criminal case. Additionally, he is dealing with a separate civil lawsuit filed by Ephron.
Who Is A$AP Relli?
Ephron, previously known as A$AP Relli, testified at the November hearing that he and Rocky had been friends since childhood and were part of the same artistic group in their New York high school, according to AP. Both were associated with A$AP Mob, a hip-hop collective that included popular rapper A$AP Ferg and the late A$AP Yams.
Their friendship eventually deteriorated, which led to the incident in Hollywood on November 6, 2021, when Ephron claimed that Rocky first brandished a gun at him.
There was also another incident where Rocky allegedly shot at Ephron, grazing his former friend’s knuckles, as reported by AP. Law enforcement officials did not recover the supposed weapon, a 9 mm pistol, during a search warrant executed at Rocky’s residence.
Why Was A$AP Rocky Arrested?
In April 2022, the police took the “Fashion Killa” rapper into custody at the Los Angeles International Airport in relation to the shooting, confirmed by the Los Angeles Police Department. He was arrested upon returning from a trip to Barbados with Rihanna at LAX on charges of “assault with a deadly weapon.”
The “Praise the Lord” rapper was released after posting a bail of $550,000, as confirmed by LAPD to YSL News. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Victoria B. Wilson mandated that the rapper maintain a distance from Ephron.
In August 2022, Rocky entered a not guilty plea to the allegations. Following a ruling in November that found adequate evidence to proceed with the case, Rocky was required to submit a not guilty plea again in January 2024.
(This story has been updated to include new information.)
Contributors: Charles Trepany, KiMi Robinson, and Pamela Avila,
