The music star, fashion mogul, and actress Rihanna – who is the significantly more successful partner in the relationship – entered the courtroom in Los Angeles a few minutes after the final pleading had begun. Even this time, she used a side entrance to avoid the massive media crowd outside the courthouse.
She had with her their two sons RZA Athelston Mayers and Riot Rose Mayers, born in 2022 and 2023, and dressed in suits for the day. According to AP's reporter on site, the sons could be heard chattering during the prosecutor's speech while Rihanna tried to distract the younger one with a toy.
According to the indictment, Asap Rocky is suspected of having fired two shots at his childhood friend Terell Ephron – also known as Asap Relli – with whom he had fallen out in November 2021. The shots allegedly grazed Ephron's fingers, and Asap Rocky has been charged with aggravated assault.
The crucial question for the court to decide is whether the shots were actually fired from a real pistol or, as the defense claims, a harmless prop pistol.
There is a crucial question you must answer: Was it a real pistol or was it a fake pistol? That's what the whole thing is about, said Vice District Attorney Paul Przelomiec to the jury in the courtroom.
Asap Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has invoked his right not to testify in the trial, but risks up to 24 years in prison if convicted.
