A$AP Rocky’s Lawyer Challenges Accuser’s Testimony in LA Trial \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ At A$AP Rocky’s Los Angeles assault trial, his defense team aggressively challenged the testimony of accuser A$AP Relli, questioning his claims of injury and motivation for seeking damages. Rihanna, Rocky’s partner, attended the proceedings as tensions ran high, with heated exchanges between attorneys. Rocky faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted, while his legal team argues he only fired a prop gun loaded with blanks.
A$AP Rocky Trial: Quick Look
- Accuser’s Testimony Challenged: Rocky’s lawyer cross-examined A$AP Relli, questioning his injury claims and motives for suing.
- Rihanna Attends Court: The singer sat alongside Rocky’s mother, watching the heated courtroom exchanges.
- Defense Argues Gun Was a Prop: Rocky’s legal team claims he only fired blanks from a starter pistol for security purposes.
- Medical Treatment Delay Questioned: Relli waited two days and flew to New York before seeking medical attention.
- Tense Courtroom Clash: Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina and prosecutor John Lewin engaged in a shouting match, forcing the judge to walk out.
- Potential 24-Year Sentence: If convicted, Rocky faces decades in prison, just as he’s nominated for his third Grammy Award.
- Trial Continues Next Week: The jury will soon decide whether Rocky’s prop gun defense is convincing or if he fired a real weapon.
Deep Look
Key Witness Cross-Examined Amid High Tensions
The trial of A$AP Rocky, who faces two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, took a dramatic turn on Friday as his lawyer aggressively cross-examined accuser A$AP Relli, challenging his claims of being injured and suggesting financial motives.
Superstar singer Rihanna, Rocky’s partner and mother of his two children, attended the Los Angeles courtroom for the third day, first arriving quietly and later walking in side by side with Rocky. She sat next to Rocky’s mother, observing the tense exchange between Relli and Rocky’s lead defense attorney, Joe Tacopina.
Defense Questions Relli’s Claims of Injury
The case centers on an alleged 2021 incident in which Relli, a former friend of Rocky, claims that the rapper fired a gun at him, grazing his hand. Prosecutors presented a photo of Relli’s knuckles, which appeared to have scrapes, as evidence of the injury.
Tacopina repeatedly pressed Relli about his decision to delay medical treatment, pointing out that he waited two days and flew across the country to New York before seeing a doctor.
Tacopina: “You waited to fly all the way across the country before seeking medical attention?”
Relli: “I had my hand wrapped that night.”
Relli initially denied seeking treatment based on legal advice, but later admitted under questioning that his attorney in a separate civil lawsuit against Rocky had advised him to do so.
Tacopina: “You really don’t care about getting the police involved. Your endgame was getting money from Rocky, correct?”
Relli: “No. I wanted protection. I wasn’t sure it wouldn’t happen again.”
Tacopina also highlighted Relli’s short hospital visit, implying that his injuries were exaggerated.
Tacopina: “That’s one hour and 36 minutes for a gunshot, yeah?”
Relli: “It was two days later.”
Prosecution Says Injury Doesn’t Affect Charges
Prosecutors, anticipating the defense’s attack on Relli’s credibility, told jurors during their opening statement that the case does not hinge on Relli’s injuries. Instead, they emphasized that Rocky’s act of firing the gun itself is the key issue.
Throughout his testimony, Relli appeared angry and frustrated, frequently asking if questions were relevant, muttering under his breath, and at times refusing to answer directly. The judge repeatedly instructed him to respond with “yes” or “no” and reminded him to keep his emotions in check.
When confronted with two separate recorded phone calls that the defense claimed were his, Relli denied both, declaring them fake.
A$AP Rocky’s Defense Claims He Used a Prop Gun
Rocky’s legal team made a major revelation just before the trial began: they claim that the gun in question was a starter pistol that only fired blanks. According to the defense, Relli was aware of this and that the firearm was merely a prop for security purposes.
Under prosecution questioning, Relli originally denied knowing Rocky to carry a gun. However, when Tacopina pressed him further, his response was less certain.
Relli: “I don’t really chill with him every day, I don’t know. From the time I chill with him, I don’t know him carrying guns.”
Tacopina: “Well, one thing you know is for sure—he doesn’t carry a prop gun.”
Relli: “Who carries a prop gun? Who’s going to come to a situation and carry a prop gun?”
Explosive Courtroom Clash Between Lawyers
After the jury was dismissed for lunch, tensions boiled over between Tacopina and Deputy District Attorney John Lewin. The conflict erupted when Tacopina showed Relli a racy photo of his girlfriend, demanding that he identify her.
Lewin immediately objected, accusing the defense of trying to provoke Relli rather than address the actual assault charges.
Lewin: “This entire case is a distraction from the facts, including this prop gun garbage!”
Tacopina, growing more aggressive, fired back.
Tacopina: “Oh?! Oh!? We’ll see what the jury says at the end!”
The argument escalated, with Tacopina calling Relli a liar and accusing the prosecution of helping him fabricate his story. The situation became so heated that the judge abruptly left the courtroom, visibly frustrated.
Rocky Faces Up to 24 Years in Prison
If convicted, A$AP Rocky could face a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison. The high-stakes verdict could mark a dramatic turning point in his life, as the rapper is currently enjoying both personal and professional success.
This weekend, Rocky is nominated for his third Grammy Award, with the ceremony set to take place at Crypto.com Arena—just two miles from the courthouse.
Outside the courtroom, his relationship with Rihanna remains a focal point of public interest. The couple, both 36, have built a family together, raising their two sons: 2-year-old RZA Athelston Mayers and 1-year-old Riot Rose Mayers.
What Happens Next?
With the trial continuing next week, all eyes remain on the courtroom. The jury will soon decide whether Rocky’s defense—claiming that he only fired blanks from a prop gun—will hold up against the prosecution’s argument that a real firearm was used.
Meanwhile, the heated exchanges between attorneys suggest that the trial will only become more intense as it moves forward. With his career, freedom, and family at stake, A$AP Rocky is facing one of the most pivotal moments of his life—and the verdict could change everything.
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