A$AP Rocky's trial begins

A$AP Rocky's assault trial commenced on Friday in Los Angeles, where the rapper is accused of discharging a firearm at a former friend.

The rapper, whose birth name is Rakim Mayers, could face a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison if found guilty of two felony assault charges related to the incident from 2021, which occurred near a Hollywood hotel.

During the opening statements, prosecutors portrayed the rapper as the instigator, alleging that he devised a plan to shoot his childhood friend following a dispute.

The Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist, who is also a fashion entrepreneur and long-term partner of singer Rihanna, has pleaded not guilty and refuted the claims against him.

The victim, fellow artist and childhood acquaintance Terell Ephron, testified last year that he was grazed by bullets when the rapper fired in his direction in Hollywood, located just a block away from the renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame. He mentioned that he opted to seek medical attention after returning to New York.

Authorities state that the shooting occurred on 6 November 2021 after a "heated discussion" between the rapper and Terell Ephron, both members of the A$AP Mob hip-hop collective and friends since their high school years in New York.

A jury consisting of seven women and five men was selected over three days this week before the opening arguments began on Friday.

Prosecutors also showed the jury text messages exchanged between the two shortly after the incident, where Mr Ephron accuses the rap star of trying to kill him.

"U try killing me," he wrote.

Mr. Mayers responded, "wtf iz ut talking about."

The rapper rejected a plea offer ahead of the trial and said the weapon he was accused of firing was a "prop gun" incapable of firing real ammunition. The AP news agency reported that this would have meant agreeing to 180 days in prison.

Defence attorney Joe Tacopina on Friday said the gun was a starter pistol used as a prop, something the rapper's security guards advised him to carry to fend off potential attackers.

The trial continues..