the Met Gala<\/a>, to be held in May. He also stars alongside Denzel Washington in a Spike Lee-directed movie scheduled to open in summer.<\/p>\nJohn Lewin, a deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County, had asked the jury not to be swayed by the court appearances of Rihanna, who was a frequent presence during the 13-day trial and attended the start of closing arguments last week with the pair\u2019s two young sons.<\/p>\n
\u201cRocky did not want her here,\u201d Tacopina said. \u201cHe wanted to shield her from this. Wild horses couldn\u2019t keep her away.\u201d<\/p>\n
The three-week trial was the culmination of a dispute between former collaborators, Relli and Rocky. The high school friends once belonged to the same rap collective called ASAP (Always Strive and Prosper) Mob but their relationship had grown acrimonious. They agreed to meet on the evening of Nov. 6, 2021, to clear their differences, Relli testified.<\/p>\n
Relli claimed Rocky arrived with two men \u2014 ASAP Twelvyy, born Jamel Phillips, and ASAP Illz, born Illijah Ulanger \u2014 at a parking garage near the W Hotel in Hollywood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Relli described briefly arguing with Rocky before the parties separated. The confrontation resumed a few minutes later and Rocky pulled a gun from his waistband as Relli attempted to hide behind Illz. Relli testified that Rocky fired at him, grazing his right hand. The prosecution presented surveillance video showing Rocky holding a gun before the shooting in support of its claim.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole thing was like a movie, he kind of like pointed down and he shot the first shot,\u201d Relli testified.<\/p>\n
Twelvyy and another defense witness testified that Rocky had fired blanks from a prop gun, which he had started carrying months earlier on the recommendation of a security adviser, and that Relli knew it was a fake. The defense maintained that Rocky had only intended to defend Illz from being physically attacked by Relli and that Relli had exaggerated events to extort Rocky and later support his quest for damages in a civil trial.<\/p>\n
Relli had spent several days testifying at the trial, including sitting for a contentious cross-examination by Tacopina. Relli grew frustrated when Tacopina showed his Instagram page in court and said he had received death threats because of the accusations he had made.<\/p>\n
At one point, Judge Mark S. Arnold asked an animated Relli to \u201ctake it easy\u201d and advised him to drink some water.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not on trial,\u201d Relli said. \u201cI\u2019ve been here for five days, dealing with this man. I\u2019ve been looking stupid for five days.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n