LOS ANGELES — During an essential segment of the trial for A$AP Rocky, his attorney on Friday interrogated the testimony of A$AP Relli, the individual alleging he was injured by a gunshot fired by the hip-hop star in 2021.
Rihanna, Rocky’s partner and mother of their two children, observed the proceedings from the public gallery as Relli, a former friend of Rocky, faced a second day of intense questioning, showing signs of irritation and anger throughout the process.
Rihanna entered the courtroom around half an hour into the proceedings, taking a seat beside Rocky’s mother. After a break, she and Rocky made their entrance together for the first time. When she left separately, a reporter inquired about her well-being, to which she responded, “I’m good, thank you.” On her earlier visits to the court, she had come in under the radar.
During his testimony, Relli described feeling a burning sensation in his hand when Rocky allegedly shot at him on a Hollywood street, claiming his hand was grazed. Photographic evidence showed scrapes on his knuckles, but Relli did not seek medical assistance until two days later in New York.
Defense lawyer Joe Tacopina questioned Relli about his decision to wait for medical attention until after a lengthy flight. Relli explained, “I had my hand wrapped that night,” but later confirmed that he indeed received care only after traveling across the country. Following the incident, he expressed a lack of trust in Los Angeles. Rocky’s defense team argues that Relli sought medical assistance only at the prompting of his civil attorney, suggesting financial motives behind his assertions.
When Tacopina confronted him about his hospital visit duration, Relli maintained it was not unusual given the timing of the medical appointment. Meanwhile, the prosecution asserted during its opening statements that the outcome of the case is not contingent on whether Relli sustained injuries from the alleged incident.
Rocky faces serious consequences, with potential prison time of up to 24 years if found guilty of two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. This trial is particularly significant for the rapper, who has been nominated for his third Grammy Award this weekend, a short distance from the courtroom.
Throughout his cross-examination, Relli’s demeanor became increasingly agitated. He often asked whether certain inquiries were pertinent, occasionally muttered under his breath, and required reminders from the judge to respond with “yes” or “no.” When presented with audio recordings linked to him, Relli dismissed two as inauthentic and expressed uncertainty about the third.
When questioned about one recording in which he purportedly suggested he would abandon the criminal case in exchange for millions, Relli retorted, “I don’t know, you tell me! You’re the one putting all this stuff in front of me.” The recorded calls originated from an individual named Wally, whom Relli initially claimed not to know, later stating he was familiar with him and that he frequently asks after Relli’s well-being.
The defense’s cross-examination concluded with Relli scheduled to return to the witness stand on Monday for further questioning by the prosecution. Rocky’s legal team has recently submitted a claim that the firearm he used was a starter pistol that only discharged blanks and was intended as a security prop, arguing that Relli was aware of this fact.
Under prosecution questioning, Relli admitted he was not aware of Rocky possessing a firearm. However, when Tacopina probed further, Relli’s certainty waned, stating, “I don’t really chill with him every day, I don’t know.” Addressing the possibility of Rocky wielding a prop gun, Relli questioned, “Who carries a prop gun?”
The trial reached a boiling point during the lunch break when a heated exchange erupted between Tacopina and Deputy District Attorney John Lewin, with Lewin accusing the defense of failing to address the specifics of the case. Tacopina retaliated with loud remarks, calling Relli a liar and suggesting that the prosecution was complicit in his dishonesty. The judge, clearly exasperated, ultimately stepped out of the courtroom as tensions escalated.
Rihanna and Rocky, both 36, share two sons: RZA Athelston Mayers, aged two, and Riot Rose Mayers, aged one.
This report has been edited to clarify that the comments regarding phone calls were made by A$AP Relli, not A$AP Rocky.
