Heated Arguments Mark Court Proceedings
A heated exchange between ASAP Rocky's attorney, Joe Tacopina, and the prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin, nearly erupted into a full-blown argument during the rapper's assault trial.
The incident occurred during closing arguments, as captured in a video posted to social media. Lewin, who had objected 17 times during Tacopina's closing statements according to the judge, became visibly agitated when Tacopina referenced a matter discussed in the appeals court.
"Your honor, one more thing out of him and we air out everything that's happened in this case!" Lewin exclaimed. "He might want to stop!"
Tacopina responded with a defiant "Ooh, I'm so threatened by you," which further escalated the tension. Lewin retorted, "Yeah, you should be, Joe. You should be." The exchange quickly devolved into a heated argument, with both lawyers speaking over each other.
Judge Mark Arnold was forced to intervene, sternly admonishing both parties: "Stop it! Knock it off!"
The closing arguments presented starkly contrasting narratives of the events that transpired in 2021, when ASAP Rocky was accused of assaulting ASAP Relli with a firearm.
Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec emphasized the seriousness of the alleged offense, stating, "Was it a real gun or was it a fake gun? Nothing else is in dispute." He argued that the evidence unequivocally supported the two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
In contrast, Tacopina vehemently defended his client, labeling Relli "an angry pathological liar" who "committed perjury again and again and again." He maintained that the firearm in question was a prop that only fired blanks and had been taken from security months prior to the alleged incident.
The jury is currently deliberating the verdict.
