A$AP Relli has admitted to deleting several text messages from his phone before reporting A$AP Rocky to law enforcement in an assault case that could land the rapper a 24-year prison sentence if convicted
. The revelation emerged during the fourth day of Rocky’s trial on Thursday, 30, as his defence attorney, Joe Tacopina, scrutinized Relli’s actions leading up to the alleged shooting.
Tacopina presented evidence showing discrepancies between the phones of both parties. Relli’s device displayed three unprompted texts from Rocky, while Rocky’s phone revealed four allegedly deleted messages from Relli. The deleted texts reportedly included confrontational statements such as, “You got all this fake animosity towards me lol beat me up,” “n**** I wish u would,” “Give me a reason n****,” and “U been a p***y.”
Relli initially dismissed the texts as fake when questioned in court but later admitted to deleting them without providing a clear explanation. Despite this, he maintained that it didn’t change the fact that Rocky “threatened me.”
The trial also featured video evidence purportedly showing Rocky confronting Relli and brandishing what prosecutors claim was a handgun. Tacopina countered this claim, asserting that it was a prop gun intended to scare off potential attackers.
The courtroom proceedings have been tense, with Tacopina cross-examining Relli about his character and the events of November 6, 2021, when the alleged shooting took place. At one point, their exchanges became heated, with Relli frequently responding to questions with “I don’t recall.”
Rihanna, Rocky’s partner, has been present in court, supporting him throughout the proceedings and making headlines with her appearance in a courtroom sketch released earlier in the day.
As the trial continues, the jury will need to determine whether Relli’s account holds weight amid the conflicting evidence and intense courtroom drama.