A$AP Rocky will appear in Swedish court Tuesday for the first day of his trial on assault charges, in a case that has attracted the attention of President Trump and high-profile celebrities like Kim Kardashian.
The 30-year-old rapper — whose real name is Rakim Mayers — and two other suspects have been sitting in Swedish jail since July 3, following a street brawl in Stockholm in the early hours of June 30.
Prosecutors say the Grammy-nominated artist and the two other men “deliberately, together in agreement” beat, kicked and struck a victim, identified as Mustafa Jafari, with a bottle.
The “Praise the Lord” rapper has insisted he was provoked and acted in self defense during the melee, video of which shows him throwing a man to the ground.
Rocky, who was on tour in the Swedish capital at the time of the brawl, has been charged with assault and causing actual bodily harm.
His lawyer, Slobodan Jovicic, said he would plead not guilty at trial.
If convicted at Stockholm district court, Rocky and his two companions, who have also been charged with assault, could face up to two years in jail.
Earlier this month, Trump took to Twitter to campaign for the rapper after Kardashian and Kanye West lobbied the White House to get Rocky released.
The president asked Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to help free Rocky and also said he would personally vouch for the rapper’s bail. Sweden does not have a bail system.
Lofven said he wouldn’t intervene in the case, prompting Trump to tweet he was “very disappointed” in the prime minister and demand: “Treat Americans fairly!”
With Post wires