A$AP Rocky has turned down a plea deal in the A$AP Relli shooting case and will continue to trial once jury selection is complete.
Rolling Stone reporter Nancy Dillon was in the Los Angeles courtroom as the jury selection in the 2021 shooting case began on Tuesday (January 21).
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According to Dillon, Rocky was offered three years probation, a seven-year suspended prison sentence and 180 days in county jail if he would plead guilty to Count 1, but as he told the judge, “I respectfully decline, thank you.”
Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, also revealed they have two witnesses who are ready to testify that the gun seen on the security video was a prop gun that Rocky carried “for security reasons.”
A$AP Rocky leaving court for lunch break on first day of firearm assault trial in Los Angeles. We’re still in jury selection pic.twitter.com/EMk4R6YFNV
— Nancy Dillon (@Nancy__Dillon) January 21, 2025
A$AP Rocky turning down the deal was expected, as his lawyer told Judge Mark S. Arnold at a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday (January 16): “From our side, we have no interest in a settlement. My client has indicated he’s not willing to take anything. But obviously, I will listen to anything, any offer. And I have an obligation and a duty to relay it to my client, which I will do.”
Elsewhere in the hearing, Judge Arnold attempted to clarify Rocky and Rihanna‘s marital status, and things got a little confusing.
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“She’s his common-law wife, your Honor. Or just ‘wife,’” his lawyer said, which led to an objection from prosecutors.
A lawyer for the state countered: “If they’re not legally married, we prefer that she not be referred to as his wife and that she is just referred to as his significant other or mother of his children.”
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Judge Arnold then asked: “Are they legally married anywhere?” to which Rocky’s attorney admits: “I don’t know, but she’s certainly his common-law wife.”
The judge ultimately ruled that Rihanna will only be referred to as A$AP Rocky’s wife if they are actually legally married, which doesn’t appear to be the case.
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“If they are not legally married, she is his significant other,” Arnold decided.
After the hearing, Tacopina said Rocky is feeling “confident” that he will be acquitted and is prepared to testify if necessary.
“He’s eager to tell his story. He would love the opportunity to do so,” he told Rolling Stone. “He’s a good human being and that would come out if he testifies. But that’s a decision that has not been made yet. It depends how the case goes.”
Tacopina also spoke with journalist Meghann Cuniff outside the courthouse and was asked if Rihanna will attend the highly-publicized trial.
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He replied: “I don’t know. That’s a family decision. He’s very protective of Rihanna and doesn’t want her anywhere near this proceeding. But that’s a family decision they’ll make.”
The trial is expected to last around 15 days. A$AP Rocky faces up to 24 years in prison if found guilty.
