A$AP Rocky‘s felony assault trial acquired underway Friday morning … days after the Grammy-nominated rapper rejected a plea deal. He faces a possible 24-year jail sentence if he is discovered responsible — and, we’re reside streaming the entire thing.

Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, is addressing the decide within the downtown L.A. courtroom.

The 2 sides are arguing over proof associated to casings — and, the decide has determined the protection is free to seek the advice of a firearms professional on the court docket’s dime. Nonetheless, no proof was excluded, however nothing they argued over is allowed to be talked about of their opening statements and they’re bringing the jury in now.

Prosecutors addressed the jury first … telling them that whereas the case might seem sophisticated on the outsidde, it is truly reasonably easy — and, the prosecutor is pointing to movies allegedly exhibiting Rocky allegedly threatening A$AP Relli.

Rihanna‘s was introduced up by prosecutors within the first couple of minutes of their opening assertion … with the attorneys sharing an image of Rocky and RiRi collectively at an occasion. As we instructed you, she was additionally talked about throughout jury choice.

The video — allegedly exhibiting A$AP Rocky allegedly beating up A$AP Relli — was performed in court docket too … paused a number of instances whereas the prosecutors named every individual within the clip for the jury.

A$AP Rocky — authorized identify Rakim Mayers — is accused of firing a gun at a former affiliate at a lodge in Hollywood in 2021. He was charged in 2022 with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

As we instructed you … Terell Ephron — AKA A$AP Relli, a part of the A$AP Mob — claims Rocky threatened to kill him earlier than the rapper allegedly pulled the set off the night time of the incident. Relli was handled on the time for a minor harm to his hand.

Juror will hear about three different A$AP members beside Rocky and Relli on this trial, prosecutors say — A$AP Illz, A$AP Bari and A$AP 12vvy … it is unclear in what context they are going to be talked about.

Tacopina says the weapon was a prop gun — a starter pistol — Rocky used for present.

Within the plea deal Rocky rejected, prosecutors supplied him 180 days in jail, a seven-year suspended sentence, and three years on probation, in trade for a responsible plea to one of many costs.

Tacopina instructed TMZ … other than the proposed plea discount being a career-ender for his consumer, “He isn’t taking ANY PLEA, as a result of he has all the time maintained his innocence.”

Rocky pled not responsible to the fees in 2022 and was launched on bond. Police had raided Rocky’s house in 2022 shortly after he acquired again from a visit to Barbados with Rihanna, the mom of his 2 sons.