Photo Credit: A$AP Rocky/Instagram
After a three day that took place earlier this month for rapper A$AP Rocky’s assault case in Sweden where he claimed self defense, he was found guilty today. The same verdict was handed to two members of his entourage Bladimir Corniel and David Rispers, also guilty of assault. On the brighter side, none were issues prison time as the verdict was given in the form of a suspended sentence. So long as they do not commit any further crimes in Sweden within a two year period, they’ll avoid prison. The claim of self defense was called bogus by the court which stated Rocky and his crew were “not in a situation where they were entitled to self-defence,” also stating in the verdict that they “assaulted the victim by hitting and kicking him as he lay on the ground. The artist has also thrown the victim to the ground and stepped on his arm.”
The victim, a 19 year old refugee received damages for what the court described as violation of his integrity and for pain and suffering. “The court has recognised that Rocky and his party were followed and harassed, that no bottle was used, that Rocky didn’t act in a joined attack with the others and that Rocky didn’t inflict any wounds on the victim and that is a win,” ASAP Rocky’s lawyer Slobodan Jovicic told the BBC. “But the court has also concluded that Rocky didn’t act in self-defence. It’s a conclusion that Rocky and I don’t agree with.”
Rocky posted his dismay with the result on Instagram stating “I AM OF COURSE DISAPPOINTED BY TODAY’S VERDICT. I WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF MY FANS, FRIENDS, AND EVERYONE WHO SHOWED ME LOVE DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. IMMA KEEP MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU TO MY TEAM, MY MANAGEMENT, ATTORNEYS, LABEL AND EVERYONE WHO ADVOCATED FOR JUSTICE. 🙏🏿”
There were a number of legal experts who felt Rocky would be serving at least a number of months in prison but largely because of the bottle that was alleged to have been used in the attack but he’s lucky things didn’t turn out that way for him. He’s also lucky to have had the support he did given remarks he’s made about Black Lives Matter in the past and how people felt he was showing he couldn’t relate to criminal justice issues. Even though no one should be forced to be political if they choose not to, he did in fact have his own experience with the criminal justice system nonetheless, and one that will hopefully give him a different perspective on what everyone’s been talking about. Either way, welcome home, Rocky and make sure you be careful when going out of the country from now on.
