A$AP Rocky Saw His Day In Swedish Court
As court proceedings continue in A$AP Rocky‘s highly-publicized assault case, the rapper has taken the stand to testify on his behalf.
Thursday, the “Goldie” lyricist, born Rakim Mayers, was cross-examined by Swedish prosecutor Daniel Suneson and stressed how he feared for his safety when approached by the plaintiff Mustafa Jafari, ABC News has learned. Despite multiple attempts to diffuse the situation, Rocky claims Jafari continued to follow him, which prompted the rapper to act in self-defense.
“We pleaded with them, we begged them: ‘We don’t want to go to jail, please stop following us,’” Rocky recalled during his testimony. “Jafari said he wanted his headphones. I tried to explain to him, ‘You broke it on my security guard…we don’t have it.’”
As previously reported, Rocky’s bodyguard had filed a complaint against Jafari after Jafari threw his headphones at him, in response to the bodyguard physically pushing and lifting him. Prosecutors, however, ruled that throwing the headphones could be considered self-defense in Jafari’s case.
“What I want is justice and I want is my name to be cleared and justice for all of us. That’s what I want,” Rocky concluded his testimony.
Jafari was also cross-examined by Rocky’s defense team, but he refused to answer questions about whether or not he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the incident. Jafari has a criminal record of drug possession. Rocky testified that Jafari’s behavior during the incident made him think that he was under the influence.
The rapper’s case has gained traction within the past few weeks, with fans, fellow artists and even President Donald Trump publicly calling for Rocky’s release on social media. Sweden’s Prime Minister, however, has reportedly told Trump that U.S. officials cannot interfere in the country’s judiciary process.
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