Joe Tacopina

Rapper A$AP Rocky will stand trial on charges that he assaulted a former childhood friend with a firearm in 2021, a Los Angeles judge has ruled.

The decision was made on Monday during The Second day of a preliminary hearing, which was attended by A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers.

Prosecutors say Mr Mayers, 35, pointed and fired a handgun at Terell Ephron, causing minor injuries.

Mr Mayers, who has Two Children with singer Rihanna, has pleaded Not Guilty .

The Grammy nominated Mr Mayers, who has had two US Number One albums, is facing two felony counts of assault with a firearm.

He could receive up to nine years in prison if found guilty.

Mr Ephron, who was part of the A$AP Mob hip-hop collective and has known him since their time together at a New York High School , alleges separately in a lawsuit that he is The Victim of assault and battery, negligence and emotional distress.

Mr Ephron, known as A$AP Relli, says Mr Mayers " lured" him to an obscure location outside The W Hotel in Hollywood, Los Angeles , on 6 November 2021 to discuss a disagreement.

CCTV footage of the alleged assault that was played In Court shows Mr Mayers brandishing and firing a gun, an LA detective testified earlier this month.

Mr Mayers's lawyers deny that it is their client who is seen in the video holding and firing The Gun .

Superior Court Judge ML Villar only had to decide whether there was sufficient evidence for the case to go forward, not whether A Crime had been committed. The Burden of proof is significantly lower for preliminary hearings like these.

Mr Ephron is also suing Mr Mayers, claiming that after a verbal altercation Mr Mayers " pulled out a handgun and purposefully pointed it in the direction of [Mr Ephron] and fired multiple shots".

Mr Ephron was " struck by bullet projectile/fragments" in his Left Hand and required medical attention, according to The Court papers. He is seeking at least $25,000 (£20,000) in damages.

At a court hearing in August 2022, The Judge ordered Mr Mayers to stay 100 yards (300ft) away from Mr Ephron at all times.

Mr Mayers was previously given a two-year suspended sentence for his role in a brawl in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2019.

He is being represented in the Los Angeles case by lawyer Joe Tacopina , who is also representing former President Donald Trump in his New York civil fraud trial.

As A$AP Rocky, he was one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2010s, earning eight platinum singles in the US, including Wild For The Night , Everyday, LSD and A$AP Forever.

He rose to fame after being championed by Drake, and has worked with artists including Alicia Keys , Lana Del Rey , Skepta, Selena Gomez and Kendrick Lamar .

Source of news: bbc.com