Published at 8:31 AM, February 4, 2025
LOS ANGELES (AP)– A previous buddy who declares rap artist A$ AP Rocky fired a weapon at him in 2021 affirmed Monday that nobody associated with the occurrence provided him any indicator the gun may have been phony– as the defense competes– up until the day Rocky’s trial began 2 weeks earlier.
The statement from the trial’s essential witness, who passes A$ AP Relli, came at completion of a long, aggravating slog on the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom that drove him to scream, “You’re irritating, brother!” and a lot more at the lead defense lawyer.
A$ AP Relli affirms throughout A$ AP Rocky’s trial at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.(Frazer Harrison/Pool by means of AP )
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In its re-direct questioning on Monday, the prosecution pressed back versus the concept that for security Rocky brought a starter handgun that just shot blanks.
Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec revealed Relli texts from after the occurrence in which he informed Rocky “U attempt eliminating me” which Rocky had actually attempted to take him from his child.
“At any point did he react to your text to inform you it was a phony weapon?” The district attorney asked Relli, who affirmed his knuckles were grazed in the event.
“No,” he reacted. He stated the very same of the 2 shared pals who had actually existed.
The statement was the very first time the jury heard how late the prop weapon defense was exposed, regardless of more than 3 years passing and a number of days of statement at an initial hearing in 2023.
Rihanna, the super star vocalist who is Rocky’s long time partner and the mom of his 2 young child children, was not in the courtroom after remaining in the audience to support him for the trial’s previous 3 days.
Rocky has actually pleaded innocent to 2 felony counts of attack with a semiautomatic gun, charges that with a conviction bring an optimum charge of 24 years in jail.
A day previously, the hip-hop star was up a Grammy Award for the 3rd time at an event simply 2 miles away, however lost to among the night’s huge winners, Kendrick Lamar.
Relli, who initially took the stand on Wednesday, had actually been frequently incredibly elusive and simply as typically upset under interrogation from Rocky’s attorney.
Vocalist Rihanna, center, go back to Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Liam McEwan)
That capped Monday as the defense got a possibility to ask its last set of concerns before he was excused.
“I’m not on trial. I’ve been here for 5 days, handling this guy,” he stated. “I’ve been looking dumb for 5 days.”
He disregarded the judge’s cautions not to make such declarations.
“You believe you’re slick!” he screamed at defense attorney Joe Tacopina minutes later on. “And I’m on to you! You’re not going to keep tripping me up! You’re not slick!”
Recently, Relli had actually madly stated that recordings of call the defense bet him about getting cash from Rocky were fabricated. Defense attorney compete the only factor Relli went to cops about the occurrence was so he might draw out cash from Rocky in the civil case he has actually likewise submitted.
On Monday, the guy who taped those calls, Wally Sajimi, took the stand as an out-of-order witness for the defense, and the jurors heard the recordings themselves.
In among them, a voice looking like Relli’s states he’ll stop taking part in the criminal case as quickly as he makes money.
“Once I leave, when I get my money, the case will get method weaker,” states the recording that Sajimi affirmed he made in 2022. “It’s going to be tough for the DA to discover me. Since I’m going to be on another island.”
Sajimi affirmed that he develops sites for artists and brand names, and has actually dealt with both Rocky and Relli, however stated he is much closer to Rocky, whom he thinks about a buddy.
