A$AP Rocky’s Lawyer Grills Rapper’s Alleged Victim as Rihanna Looks On
Pop Star Witnesses Alleged Victim’s Testimony
Pop star Rihanna returned to a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Thursday and watched the alleged victim in the assault trial of her boyfriend A$AP Rocky become increasingly contentious on the witness stand under questioning by the rapper-turned-fashion designer’s attorney.
Terell Ephron, 36, formerly known as A$AP Relli, contends that Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, attacked him on a Hollywood street four years ago, pulled a gun and fired twice, causing minor injuries to his hand.
Mayers’ attorney, Joe Tacopina, maintains the weapon was a prop gun from a music video that was incapable of firing real ammunition. The gun does not now exist, attorneys said. Ephron insists he found two shell casings on the street at the scene of the altercation hours after police searched the street.
Defensive Answers
The exasperation level ran high in the courtroom as Tacopina’s questions on cross examination about Ephron’s bank accounts and Instagram postings around the time of the November 2021 altercation caused Ephron to turn prickly and seemingly writhe on the stand, shaking his head, flexing his neck muscles and scowling at his interrogator.
The judge stopped to admonish the trial’s key witness several times, ordering him to simply respond to yes-or-no questions with one word and avoid long explanations.
Judge’s Intervention
But Ephron frequently answered Tacopina with long, defensive answers, and several times demanded the defense attorney explain what he was getting at.
“I don’t understand these questions,” Ephron said. “Why am I answering questions about my Instagram?”
Tacopina: “Here’s what we’re gonna do: I ask the questions, you answer them.”
Confrontation
At another juncture, Ephron blamed the attorney for suggesting he was trying to extort Mayers. But the judge had previously forbidden defense attorneys from accusing the witness of just that.
In front of the jury, the increasingly angry Ephron snapped, “People are calling me an extortionist…”
Superior Court Judge Mark Allen tried to calm the situation: “No one is calling you an extortionist. … Nobody is here to disrespect you, nobody is here to insult you.”
Sniping Between Attorneys
The judge also has been forced to deal with continued sniping between Tacopina and Deputy District Attorney John Lewin, who have engaged in an aggressive war of words in which they talk over each other and disregard the judge’s command to stop arguing and cease “speaking objections.”
Conclusion
The trial continues, with Mayers’ fate hanging in the balance. If convicted of both counts as charged, he would face up to 24 years in prison, according to prosecutors.
FAQs
What is the alleged incident that sparked the trial?
The alleged incident occurred on a Hollywood street in November 2021, when Ephron claims Rocky attacked him, pulled a gun, and fired twice, causing minor injuries to his hand.
What is the prosecution’s theory of the case?
The prosecution claims that Rocky fired a real gun at Ephron, while the defense maintains that the weapon was a prop gun from a music video that was incapable of firing real ammunition.
What is the potential punishment for Mayers if convicted?
If convicted of both counts as charged, Mayers would face up to 24 years in prison, according to prosecutors.
Will Rihanna continue to attend the trial?
It is unclear if Rihanna will return to court for a third time, as her attendance has not been confirmed.
