A$AP Rocky has chosen not to give evidence at his trial for assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
The rapper is accused of firing at an ex-friend near a hotel in 2021 in Hollywood and could get a maximum of 24 years if convicted.
Last month, A$AP Rocky turned down a plea deal for charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
The plea deal included 180 days of prison; however, due to the rapper’s rejection of the deal, he will face the possibility of a guilty verdict and multiple years in prison.
The agreement detailed how the 36-year-old would plead guilty to one of his two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Additionally, the Los Angeles County prosecutors also recommended a seven-year suspended sentence, three years probation and a six-month jail term.
On Tuesday, the 36-year-old said he would be invoking his Fifth Amendment right to silence: “I want my right to not testify.”
His lawyer said before the trial that A$AP Rocky was “eager to tell his story and would love the opportunity to do so.”
On Monday, the rapper’s tour manager Lou Levin became the second witness from his inner circle to testify.
Lou Levin said he told the rapper it made sense to carry it after a stalker and others had broken into Rocky’s house.
“Security and I thought it would be a good idea, because of the prior violence,” Mr Levin said.
“It’s just a non-lethal form of self-defence.”
The rapper’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, said that the defence plans to call witnesses who will give evidence that the firearm captured in the security video is a “starter pistol” that the rapper carried as a prop for security purposes.
A panel of 100 prospective jurors were summoned to the court on Tuesday.
The opening statements will come once 12 of the jurors and alternates are chosen and seated.
The Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold has said he plans to seat the jury quickly and will limit how long lawyers can question jurors.
“Mr Mayers is an entertainer. His stage name is A$AP Rocky. His life partner is also an entertainer. Her name is Rihanna,” Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold told the called-upon jurors.
After the jury has been selected, the judge will allow media cameras to be present for the entire trial.
In 2023, a separate judge ruled the rapper should stand trial for allegedly firing a gun at Terell Ephron.
The alleged victim is a childhood friend of the rapper and provided evidence that their relationship had ended on a bad note and came to a head on November 6, 2021.
