Spike Lee is exceptionally happy ASAP Rocky will not be spending any time behind bars. ASAP stars in Lee’s forthcoming film, Highest 2 Lowest. The Spike Lee Joint will arrive with Rocky’s co-star, Denzel Washington, this summer.
A$AP Rocky was found not guilty on all counts in his felony assault trial, where he was accused of shooting A$AP Relli in November 2021.
The trial began on Jan. 24 and concluded nearly three weeks later on February 14. After deliberating for about three hours on February 18, the jury reached a verdict, prompting cheers in the courtroom. Rocky, overwhelmed with emotion, jumped over the barrier to embrace his family.
Rocky had faced two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, charges that carried a potential 24-year prison sentence. Prosecutors, however, had planned to recommend eight to ten years if convicted.
The jury, composed of seven women and five men, ultimately found Rocky not guilty. The defense’s argument may have influenced their decision that he only fired blanks or acted in self-defense. Additionally, the prosecution may not have provided a strong enough case.
The prosecution’s case relied heavily on A$AP Relli’s testimony, along with surveillance footage capturing the sound of gunfire and a scuffle before the alleged shooting. Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, dismissed Relli as “an angry pathological liar” who repeatedly committed perjury. The defense presented testimony from two of Rocky’s associates, who stated that he had only carried a prop gun.