A$AP Rocky Ordered To Stand Trial Over Assault Charges
On Monday (November 20), a Los Angeles judge ruled there’s enough evidence for A$AP Rocky to stand trial over allegations he discharged a firearm at former friend A$AP Relli in 2021.
According to CBS News, Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar revealed her finding during a preliminary hearing, which followed around a day and a half of testimony. The Harlem rapper previously pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. His defense attempted to cast doubt while questioning witnesses, including Relli, who alleged that his former friend and collaborator shot him during a dispute.
Judge Villar said, "the totality of the video and testimony" shows sufficient evidence for the defendant to go to trial. She also emphasized that preliminary hearings have a much lower standard of evidence than a jury trial.
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The charges stem from a November 2021 incident where Rocky allegedly pointed a semi-automatic handgun at A$AP Relli, the plaintiff in the case, and fired multiple times following a “heated discussion.”
Legal documents reveal that Relli filed a civil lawsuit for assault, battery, and emotional distress against the 35-year-old on August 10, 2022. He has denied all claims of wrongdoing.
"Defendant generally denies each and every allegation of the complaint and specifically denies that Plaintiff has been damaged in any amount or in any way as a result of any act or omission of answering defendant,” Rocky’s answer to the civil complaints reads (via his attorneys). “The injuries and/or damages complained of in the complaint, if any, were caused solely, directly and proximately by the negligent and/or intentional acts or omissions of person other than answering defendant."
Relli claims bullet fragments struck him after the argument and said Wednesday that he needed medical attention at a hospital in New York City. “We were really cool. We were chill all the time,” Relli recalled on the stand.
A$AP Rocky was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on April 20, 2022, and released on bail the same day.
For a complete synopsis of A$AP Rocky’s assault case, read our explainer here.
