The opening statements for the trial, taking place in Los Angeles, will commence on Friday after the 12 jurors and four alternates have been officially sworn in. The 36-year-old rapper and fashion icon declined a plea deal from the prosecution that suggested a sentence of 180 days in jail, choosing instead to contest the charges which could result in a lengthy prison term if found guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. He has entered a plea of not guilty, asserting through his attorney that no crime was committed.
By opting for a trial on the two assault charges, Rocky risks a possible maximum sentence of 24 years if convicted. The jury selection process lasted for two and a half days, involving over a hundred candidates who appeared at a downtown courtroom in Los Angeles. Among the selected jurors is a podcast editor and an actor, as well as a man with over two decades of experience at Trader Joe’s. The final alternate juror selected has a background as a retired judge.
Many potential jurors were excused either for valid reasons or by preference of one of the legal teams. Each side had the opportunity to excuse ten jurors without needing to provide reasoning. The defense team exercised seven of their challenges, while the prosecution used just two.
One individual questioned during the selection process is employed as a civilian with the Los Angeles Police Department and has significant connections within law enforcement, including a cousin whose name appeared on the witness list but is not anticipated to testify. Once the judge declined to excuse this juror, Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, chose to dismiss him from serving.
Judge Mark Arnold, a former sheriff’s deputy, engaged with jurors about their views on law enforcement. There were several tense exchanges where the judge confronted individuals expressing distrust towards police, prompting debates on the matter. At one point, he challenged a speech pathologist, asking if he should generalize his bad experiences to all professionals in the field.
Another juror who raised concerns about police misconduct was directly questioned by the judge on specific instances of corruption within the LAPD that they might have encountered. When the infamous Rodney King incident was mentioned, Arnold challenged the perspective, questioning whether it was fair to judge contemporary officers based on events that occurred long before they were born.
Notably, there were queries regarding the celebrity status of both Rocky and his partner, the well-known singer Rihanna, who was absent from the courtroom on Thursday. It remains unclear if she will appear during the trial. During the selection, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin posed a question to a potential juror about the possible emotional impact of Rihanna’s presence, asking, “Would it be difficult for you to deliver a guilty verdict?” The juror paused before responding affirmatively.
Rocky is accused of firing three or four shots at Terell Ephron, a friend from his youth, on a Hollywood street in 2021, with Ephron claiming that bullets grazed his knuckles. Rocky maintains his not guilty plea, asserting that he wasn’t wielding a real firearm but rather a starter pistol utilized as a prop.
