The man who claims that A$AP Rocky fired a handgun at him in 2021 returns to the courtroom on Friday for additional cross-examination after enduring a tough session on the stand, reports AP,

The defence is expected to persist in questioning the man, identified as A$AP Relli, regarding the precise moment of the alleged shooting on a Hollywood street in 2021.

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During the conclusion of his testimony on Thursday, he acknowledged that his account may have changed over the past three years, but insisted that his fading memory does not alter the core events.

“A gun was pulled on me. It was pointed at me, and it was fired later,” stated the man, known as A$AP Relli, at Rocky’s trial in Los Angeles. Rocky, his former friend, is the defendant in the case. “It’s been three years. If he were innocent, he would have been home a long time ago.”

Superstar singer Rihanna, Rocky’s partner, observed proceedings from the audience for the second consecutive day.

After the jury left for the day, Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold noted that he had not heard the latter part of Relli’s statement and would instruct the jury to disregard it when they resumed for further cross-examination on Friday.

Relli, whose legal name is Terell Ephron, testified that Rocky had aimed a gun at his stomach and head, though it did not make direct contact. He further alleged that Rocky threatened to kill him. Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, confronted him with a statement he gave to prosecutors in 2022, in which he claimed the gun had been pressed against his stomach and that he had not remembered what Rocky had said at the time.

Earlier in the day, Relli disrupted courtroom decorum by shouting at Rocky, “You did this to yourself.” The judge reprimanded him, to which he responded, “He was staring at me!”

Rocky, whose full name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, remained seated at the defence table in a black suit and did not audibly respond. He faces two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic handgun for allegedly shooting at Relli, a friend since high school. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison.

Rihanna, who shares two toddler sons with Rocky, made headlines with her first appearance at his trial on Wednesday. She returned on Thursday, occupying the same seat in Rocky’s section, positioned between his mother and sister. She quietly entered the courtroom before most of the audience, dressed in a white top with gold earrings, and attentively followed the proceedings.

Tacopina’s questioning addressed the initial confrontation between Rocky and Relli, though by the end of the session, he had not yet reached the alleged moment when the shots were fired.

A significant portion of the cross-examination focused on Relli’s attitude towards Rocky leading up to the incident. Relli frequently displayed frustration and evasiveness, questioning why certain inquiries were being made and responding with “I don’t recall” before some questions were even fully posed.

He denied harbouring resentment towards Rocky before the alleged shooting, despite the defence presenting text messages and past testimonies suggesting otherwise.

“You’re trying to make it seem like I have some kind of animosity toward this dude—I don’t,” he insisted. “I never did. Even now, I don’t.”

Rocky and Rihanna, both 36, share two sons: 2-year-old RZA Athelston Mayers and 1-year-old Riot Rose Mayers.

Both global icons in fashion, the singer and rapper first connected professionally in 2012 when Rocky contributed a verse to one of her songs. They officially became a couple in 2020.

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Originally from Harlem, Rocky gained recognition in New York’s rap scene in 2011. His breakthrough came in 2013 when his debut studio album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

This year is set to be one of Rocky’s most significant professionally. He is nominated for a Grammy Award at Sunday’s ceremony at Crypto.com Arena, just two miles from his trial.

Additionally, he is slated to star opposite Denzel Washington in a film directed by Spike Lee and will serve as a co-chair at the Met Gala in May.