A$AP Rocky enters not guilty plea in Swedish assault trial


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The Swedish assault trial of rapper A$AP Rocky is now underway, and he has just entered a not guilty plea, CBS News reports.
The trial started in Stockholm District Court on Tuesday a month after the rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was arrested following a street brawl last month and charged with assault last week. He has remained in custody since July 3; Sweden does not have a bail system, CNN notes.
Prosecutors say A$AP Rocky "deliberately" attacked Mustafa Jafari, while he says he was acting in self-defense.
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The case has gained nationwide attention including from President Trump, who Kim Kardashian urged to get involved. Trump on Thursday tweeted that he was "very disappointed" in the Swedish prime minister "for being unable to act," also writing that "I watched the tapes of A$AP Rocky, and he was being followed and harassed by troublemakers." In another tweet, Trump added, "Give A$AP Rocky his FREEDOM." The Swedish prime minister's press secretary in response said that the "government cannot and will not attempt to influence the legal proceedings," Vox reports.
A verdict is expected to be reached in the case on Friday, ABC News reports. If found guilty, A$AP Rocky faces a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison.
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A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Brendan is a staff writer at The Week. A graduate of Hofstra University with a degree in journalism, he also writes about horror films for Bloody Disgusting and has previously contributed to The Cheat Sheet, Heavy, WhatCulture, and more. He lives in New York City surrounded by Star Wars posters.
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