A$AP Rocky decides not to give evidence at gun assault trial

A$AP Rocky will not give evidence at his trial over allegations he fired a gun at a former friend and collaborator.

In court in Los Angeles on Tuesday, the 36-year-old rapper was asked by Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold if he had discussed the issue with his lawyers.

“Absolutely, your honour,” Rocky replied, saying he would invoke America’s Fifth Amendment right to silence. “I want my right not to testify.”

The star’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, previously said he was “eager to tell his story” and would “love the opportunity to do so”, but putting a defendant through a potentially long cross-examination can often be risky in criminal cases.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of firing a gun at Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, a former friend and member of the A$AP crew of collaborators they were part of at school in New York.

Ephron gave evidence earlier in the trial, saying their friendship had broken down and a feud allegedly came to a head on an evening in November 2021.

At the start of the trial, jurors were shown surveillance videos that prosecutors argue make it clear Rocky fired a gun at Ephron outside a parking garage in Hollywood.

However, Mr Tacopina said in his defence opening statement that the gun was not real, but rather a starter pistol carried as a prop. Ephron has been driven by “jealousy, lies and greed”, he told the court.

‘Non-lethal form of self-defence’

On Monday, Rocky’s tour manager Lou Levin became the second witness from his inner circle to testify that he carried a fake gun for security.

The star’s house had previously been broken into by a stalker and others, he said, so he told him it made sense to carry it.

“Security and I thought it would be a good idea, because of the prior violence,” Mr Levin told the court. “It’s just a non-lethal form of self-defence.”

The gun had come from a video shoot in the summer of 2021, he said, about three months before the night in question.

The defence has said it does not have the starter pistol now. The authorities also did not recover the pistol they allege was used.

Rocky is charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

Ahead of the trial, he turned down a plea deal that could have led to a 180-day jail sentence, in exchange for a guilty plea on one count.

He faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted.

The defence has now rested its case, with closing arguments from both sides expected later this week.

A Grammy-nominated music star, actor and fashion mogul, Rocky is the partner of pop superstar Rihanna, and the couple have two young sons.

Rihanna has attended court on several days to show support.