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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Stephanie Cockroft

A$AP Rocky latest: Rapper set to appear in court in Sweden for first day of assault trial

A$AP Rocky (file picture) (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Rapper A$AP Rocky will appear in court in Sweden today for the start of his assault trial.

The 30-year-old performer, producer and model, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was detained on July 3 in connection with a street brawl in Stockholm in the early hours of June 30.

He was later charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.

Two members of his entourage have also been charged. If convicted at Stockholm district court, they could face up to two years in jail.

Mayers' lawyer Slobodan Jovicic has said the rapper would plead not guilty at the trial.

His detention before his trial prompted angry responses from fans as well as celebrities including from Kim Kardashian and Rod Stewart.

Donald Trump had also waded into the row and asked Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to help free Mayers.

He later tweeted messages saying he was "very disappointed" in Mr Lofven and demanding: "Treat Americans fairly!"

Mr Lofven responded saying he would not influence the rapper's case.

Mr Trump also said he would personally vouch for Mayers' bail. Sweden does not have a bail system.

Mayers, best known for his song Praise the Lord, was in Stockholm for a concert while on tour when the incident took place.

He has had to cancel several scheduled shows across Europe.

Before his arrest, Mayers uploaded videos on Instagram of the moments before the alleged assault, saying two men were following his team and that he did not want any trouble.

Mayers shot to fame with his 2011 debut Live.Love.A$AP. His latest album, Testing, reached the No. 4 spot on the Billboard 200 charts on its release last year.

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