U.S. rapper ASAP Rocky acquitted in criminal case

U.S. rapper ASAP Rocky has been acquitted in a criminal assault case.

The jury announced the verdict after brief deliberations on Tuesday in a Los Angeles court.

ASAP Rocky’s partner, singer Rihanna, was present at the weeks-long trial on several days of the proceedings, which saw the 36-year-old accused of two felony counts of assault with a firearm.

The allegations related to an incident in Hollywood in Nov. 2021.

ASAP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was accused of pulling a gun and shooting at a former friend, fellow rapper ASAP Relli, during an argument.

Relli was said to have suffered minor injuries to his hand.

According to ASAP Rocky’s defence lawyers, however, he was only carrying a prop gun that could not fire real bullets.

Two members of the hip-hop collective ASAP Mob testified to this on the witness stand.

In April 2022, ASAP Rocky was taken into temporary custody in Los Angeles and then charged a few months later.

The musician always denied the allegations of assault with a real weapon.

If convicted, he would have faced a long prison sentence.

The rapper has two young children with Rihanna.