ASAP Rocky released from custody amid assault allegations

Megan White3 August 2019

ASAP Rocky has been released from custody in Sweden until the verdict in his assault trial is announced.

Senior District Court Judge Per Lennerbrant told the court at the end of the three-day trial that he would hand down the verdict on August 14.

The rapper and two of his friends were detained on July 3 in connection with a street brawl on June 30 and charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.

President Donald Trump, who previously intervened in the case, claimed the rapper was on his way back to the US after his release.

Rapper ASAP Rocky has been detained in Sweden since July 3
PA

The President tweeted: "A$AP Rocky released from prison and on his way home to the United States from Sweden. It was a Rocky Week, get home ASAP A$AP!"

Prosecutors asked that the 30-year-old rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, get a six-month sentence during closing arguments at Stockholm District Court on Friday.

Mr Mayers told the court he thought community service would be a proper punishment for him.

The development comes after a witness revised her story from initial police reports, testifying in court earlier today 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.

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

Posters line the wall across from the jail where the American rapper was being held 
REUTERS

The rapper's bodyguard, identified as Timothy Leon Williams, also gave evidence on Friday.

Mr Mayers pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial on Tuesday, saying he acted in self-defence when Jafari and another man would not leave them alone.

He had been behind bars since he was arrested on July 3.

The trial created a stir in US-Swedish diplomatic relations after President Trump weighed in to support the Grammy-nominated recording artist.

Mr Trump spoke with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, offering to personally guarantee A$AP Rocky's bail, but the Swedish leader said he couldn't interfere in a legal case.

The case has also drawn the attention of celebrities, including Sean "Diddy" Combs and Justin Bieber, and a social media campaign that was pressing for the rapper's release.

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