advertisement

The Latest: A$AP Rocky: Detention was "humbling" experience

STOCKHOLM (AP) - The Latest on the assault trial in Sweden for American rapper A$AP Rocky (all times local):

9:55 p.m.

American rapper A$AP Rocky says in comments posted on his Instagram account that his month-long detainment in Sweden has been "a very difficult and humbling experience."

A Swedish court ruled Friday that the rapper and two other U.S. suspects in an assault trial can be freed until the verdict in their case is announced on Aug. 14.

The 30-year-old artist wrote "Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of my fans, friends and anyone across the globe who supported me during these last few weeks. I can't begin to describe how grateful I am for all of you."

According to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the rapper plans to leave Sweden on Friday evening on a private plane for the U.S.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused together with Daniel Rispers Jr. and Bladimir Corniel of beating a 19-year-old man in Stockholm on June 30.

___

8:45 p.m.

American rapper A$AP Rocky has left the courtroom in Stockholm where he and two other Americans are on trial for assault after being freed until Aug. 14.

President Donald Trump greeted the news with glee, tweeting "A$AP Rocky released from prison and on his way home to the United States from Sweden."

A Swedish court has ruled that the three suspects can be freed until the verdict in their case is announced on Aug. 14.

According to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the rapper plans to leave Sweden on Friday evening on a private plane from Stockholm Airport.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused with two others of beating a 19-year-old man in Stockholm on June 30.

___

8 p.m.

President Donald Trump is cheering a Swedish court's ruling that American rapper A$AP Rocky and two other American suspects can be freed from detention until Aug. 14, when the verdict on their assault case will be announced.

Trump had sought earlier to personally intervene on the rapper's behalf, a move rebuffed by Sweden's leader. On Friday Trump tweeted, "It was a Rocky Week, get home ASAP A$AP!"

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused with two others of beating a 19-year-old man in Stockholm on June 30.

A Swedish court has ruled that the three suspects can be freed from detention until the verdict is announced Aug. 14.

Trump tweeted "A$AP Rocky released from prison and on his way home to the United States from Sweden." But it wasn't immediately clear from the decision Friday by Stockholm District Court whether the suspects could leave the country.

___

7:30 p.m.

A Swedish court has ruled that American rapper A$AP Rocky and two other U.S. suspects can be freed from detention until Aug. 14, when the verdict on their June 30 assault case will be announced.

It wasn't immediately clear from the decision Friday by Stockholm District Court whether the three suspects in a beating could leave the country.

Prosecutor Daniel Suneson said in his closing comments that he was seeking a six-month sentence for the rapper, who himself had said earlier Friday that community service would be a proper punishment.

___

5:45 p.m.

The bodyguard of A$AP Rocky has told a Swedish court that the strange behavior and the "glossy" eyes of the man that the American rapper and his entourage are accused of assaulting in June alerted him that something was not right.

Timothy Leon Williams testified before Stockholm District Court on Friday that he saw 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari, the alleged victim, approaching the rapper's entourage outside a restaurant in Stockholm and trying to talk with them.

Speaking in English, Williams said he didn't understand what language Jafari was speaking. Williams said he knew "something's not right about him. I'm noticing it because I'm a bodyguard. I'm looking at him and saw that his eyes were really glossy, like he's on something."

Williams went on to explain the details of the June 30 brawl, testimony that mirrored what Mayers told the court on Thursday.

___

3 p.m.

A witness in the A$AP Rocky assault case revised her story from initial police reports, testifying in a Swedish court Friday that she didn't actually see the American rapper hitting a man with a bottle.

The young woman and her friend, testifying anonymously, were questioned via video link at Stockholm District Court.

Witness testimonies were the highlight of the third day of the trial where the 30-year-old rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, and two other suspects are accused by prosecutors of beating 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari on June 30.

Whether or not Jafari, who got into an argument with Mayers' entourage in Stockholm, was hit with parts or a whole bottle has become one of the key issues at the trial.

Both women who testified Friday maintained their previous statements to police that they saw Mayers and his partners beating and kicking Jafari.

But one of the women recanted what she witnessed with the bottle. She said she heard the bottle being crushed, though she couldn't say whether Mayers' entourage threw the bottle to the ground or hit Jafari with it.

A$AP Rocky, third left, and to the right his defence lawyer Slobodan Jovicic in the district court in Stockholm, Friday Aug. 2, 2019, the third day of A$AP Rocky's trial. American rapper A$AP Rocky testified Thursday at his assault trial that he did everything possible to avoid a confrontation with two men he said were persistently following his entourage in Stockholm, but one of those men picked a fight with one of his bodyguards. (Court Illustration by Anna Harvard/TT via AP) The Associated Press
Renee Black, mother of A$AP Rocky, right, leaves the district court after the third day of his trial in Stockholm, Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A Swedish court has ruled that American rapper A$AP Rocky and two other U.S. suspects can be freed from detention until Aug. 14, when the verdict on their assault case will be announced. Prosecutor Daniel Suneson said in his closing comments that he was seeking a six-month sentence for the rapper. (Fredrik Persson/TT News Agency via AP) The Associated Press
One of A$AP Rocky's bodyguards arrives at the district court in Stockholm, Friday Aug. 2, 2019, the third day of A$AP Rocky's trial. American rapper A$AP Rocky testified Thursday at his assault trial that he did everything possible to avoid a confrontation with two men he said were persistently following his entourage in Stockholm, but one of those men picked a fight with one of his bodyguards. (Fredrik Persson/TT via AP) The Associated Press
FILE - This Feb. 9, 2019 file photo shows A$AP Rocky at Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons in Beverly Hills, Calif. Prosecutors in Sweden are dropping the investigation of a man they say was involved in a fight with American rapper A$AP Rocky. The platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated artist whose real name is Rakim Mayers, has been behind bars since early this month as police investigate the fight in Stockholm.(Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) The Associated Press
This undated photo made available by the Swedish Police via the Swedish Court, shows an injury sustained by Mustafa Jafari, the alleged victim involved in a fight with rapper A$AP Rocky on June 30, 2019. A Swedish prosecutor on Thursday July 25, 2019 charged rapper A$AP Rocky with assault over the fight in Stockholm, in a case that has drawn the attention of fellow recording artists as well as U.S. President Donald Trump. (Swedish Police via Swedish Court via AP) The Associated Press
Renee Black, mother of ASAP Rocky arrives at the district court in Stockholm, Friday Aug. 2, 2019, the third day of A$AP Rocky's trial. American rapper A$AP Rocky testified Thursday at his assault trial that he did everything possible to avoid a confrontation with two men he said were persistently following his entourage in Stockholm, but one of those men picked a fight with one of his bodyguards. (Fredrik Persson/TT via AP) The Associated Press
A$AP Rocky, rear, and his defence lawyer Slobodan Jovicic in the district court in Stockholm, Friday Aug. 2, 2019, on the third day of A$AP Rocky's trial. American rapper A$AP Rocky testified Thursday at his assault trial that he did everything possible to avoid a confrontation with two men he said were persistently following his entourage in Stockholm, but one of those men picked a fight with one of his bodyguards. (Court Illustration by Anna Harvard/TT via AP) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.