A$AP Rocky is seemingly ready within the wings to have his likelihood to take the stand in his upcoming gun assault trial in connection to the 2021 taking pictures incident involving A$AP Relli.
On Wednesday (January 15), Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina appeared in an interview exterior of a courthouse, the place he spoke to Rolling Stone reporter Nancy Dillon concerning the upcoming case set to start out on January 21. When requested about the potential for Rocky testifying in the course of the case, Tacopina provided a measured response that offered each authorized and private context about their lawyer/consumer relationship.
“Effectively Nancy, I do know that I’ve not and would by no means decide like that earlier than trial, proper, as a result of it’s malpractice,” Tacopina stated. “That being stated, he’s [A$AP Rocky] keen to inform his story and would love the chance to take action.”
A$AP Rocky’s gun assault trial is on monitor to start Tuesday. His lawyer, Joe Tacopina, says Rocky is “keen” to testify, however choice on whether or not he’ll take the stand not made but
“He’s a great human being, and that will come out if he testifies,” Tacopina tells Rolling Stone pic.twitter.com/MImF2sjuNd
— Nancy Dillon (@Nancy__Dillon) January 15, 2025
Tacopina continued, praising Rocky’s humanity and character within the course of. “He’s very articulate and clever, he’s a great human being and that can come out if he testifies,” he stated earlier than concluding, “However that’s choice isn’t going to be made but. And it is dependent upon how the case goes.
Rocky’s authorized counsel’s assertion follows months of extended delay, after the trial that was initially set to start out in October of final yr was postponed to January 2025. A$AP Rocky, whose actual identify is Rakim Mayers, faces trial for assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Prosecutors accuse him of taking pictures his former good friend A$AP Relli in 2021. Throughout preliminary hearings for the case, footage of the incident was reviewed and confirmed there was a scuffle, but it surely didn’t clearly present the taking pictures. Relli testified that in the course of the confrontation, Rocky allegedly stated, “I’ll kill you proper now” earlier than firing a shot that grazed Relli’s hand. He alleges Rocky additionally fired two or three extra instances earlier than fleeing. In an announcement he shared following a pre-trial listening to in October 2024, Tacopina expressed his confidence that Rocky will emerge from the case a free man.
“I’m assured in understanding that he can be vindicated,” Tacopina stated. “This has been a burden for him and his household … However he’s a terrific man. He actually is. And he’s dealt with this in addition to any human being can deal with it. And he’s prepared. He’s able to face this head on and we’re able to face this head on. And he’ll be OK when that is all stated and achieved.”
Watch the interview with Tacopina within the publish above.
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