The rapper A $ AP Rocky faces a trial of shooting in Los Angeles

An assault trial begins on Friday against the rapper at $ ap Rocky, accused of having shot a firearm on a former friend of Los Angeles.

The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, risks 24 years in prison if he is found guilty of two accusations of criminal assault during the 2021 incident near a Hollywood hotel.

The star of hip-hop nominated at the Grammy, which is also a fashion magnate and the longtime partner of singer Rihanna, pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations.

The victim, his other artist and childhood friend, Terell Ephron, said last year that the bullets were wardening and decided to seek medical treatment in a hospital after his return to New York.

A jury of seven women and five men was selected during three days this week before the start of the opening arguments on Friday. The trial is expected to last about three weeks.

The authorities say that the shooting occurred on November 6, 2021 after an “animated discussion” in Hollywood between the rapper and Terell Ephron, who were both part of the hip-hop collective to $ ap Mob and have known each other since their time together In a High School in New York.

The rapper would first have withdrawn the weapon threatening during a physical argument outside, just a pâté of Hollywood Walk of Fame houses, according to charging documents.

The prosecutors say that he then pulled the weapon twice in the direction of the victim, who underwent a minor injury.

The rapper rejected a plea offer before the trial and said that the weapon he had been accused of dismissing was a “pistol propels” incapable of dismissing real ammunition, according to American media. The AP news agency indicated that this would have meant to agree up to 180 days in prison.

His lawyer told us about the media that they were ready for the trial and look forward to putting him behind them.

“We are ready to leave. It’s been a long time,” his lawyer Joe Tacopina told the Associated Press. “This is something that awaits on the head of Rocky and Rihanna and the head of their family for a while. We are impatient to advance this thing and put it behind.”

A key discord in the case is the police investigation and the injuries of Mr. Ephron. The rapper’s lawyers argued in court documents that the case should be rejected against Mr. Ephron taking several days to report the incident.

The authorities who responded to the shooting found no shell envelope during the survey of the area, but Mr. Ephron returned to the scene later and gathered two shell envelopes he said he found in the region. He brought them when he reported the incident two days later.

The weapon that would have been used in the incident was not located.

Mr. Mayers’ lawyer also questioned the injury that Mr. Ephron had in his hand and alleged that it could be a punch.

The trial occurs at a crucial time for a $ AP Rocky, who has two children with singer Rihanna.

In May, he was expected to copies the Gala puts 2025 alongside big names like Anna Wintour, the British car driver Lewis Hamilton, singer Pharrell Williams and the basketball superstar Lebron James.

Later this summer, it should also appear in a film directed by Spike Lee called “the highest 2 lower” with the acting legend Denzel Washington.

The star was previously granted a two -year suspended sentence For his role in a fight in Stockholm in August 2019.

The rapper and two members around him were found guilty of having kicked and beating a 19 -year -old man after an argument. They said they acted in self -defense, but the court rejected their argument.

The case drew media attention into the world after US President Donald Trump, without success, tried to guarantee the release of Mr. Mayers in prison when he was waiting for the trial.

Born in New York, Mr. Mayers was one of the biggest stars in small groups in the 2010 years, winning eight singles platinum in the United States, including Wild for the Night, Everyday, LSD and A $ AP Forever.

He became famous after being defended by Drake and worked with artists such as Alicia Keys, Lana Del Rey, Skepta, Selena Gomez and Kendrick Lamar.

The Mark Savage of the BBC contributed the reports.