A$AP Rocky’s Shooting Trial Begins With No Black Jurors
A$AP Rocky’s trial for a 2021 shooting incident in Stockholm, Sweden has begun, but without any Black jurors on the panel. The 33-year-old rapper is accused of assault with a deadly weapon after an argument escalated into a fight. According to reports, none of the 11 jurors selected for the trial identify as Black or of African descent.
Rocky’s lawyer, Magnus Bergh, has expressed concern over the lack of diversity on the jury, citing concerns that the trial may be influenced by systemic racism in the Swedish legal system. “We’re a bit worried that we might get a biased verdict because of the lack of diversity,” Bergh said.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, maintains that he acted in self-defense during the incident. His co-defendants, Bladimir Corniel and Davile Escobar, also deny any wrongdoing. The trial is expected to last several days.
