A$AP Rocky is allowed to leave Sweden while he awaits the verdict over a street fight in Stockholm.
His case hit international headlines after Donald Trump weighted in on the US’s rapper’s jail treatment.
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Today, the 45th president tweeted: “A$AP Rocky released from prison and on his way home to the United States from Sweden. It was a Rocky Week, get home ASAP A$AP!”
The rapper, who’s real name is Rakim Mayers, pleaded not guilty to assault after he was arrested earlier this month.
The judge today said the suspects do not need to remain in custody as the verdict will be announced on August 14.
The rapper was arrested on July 3, 2019 on suspicion of assault after a video emerged showing him throwing a “pest” to the ground.
The rapper and the rest of the suspects all pleaded not guilty and claimed it was self-defence.
In his summarising argument, prosecutor Daniel Suneson told the Stockholm District Court the actions of the three accused could not be seen as self-defence as he demanded six-month prison sentence.
He said: “We have three people who throw out punches and kicks against a person who is lying down.
“Their violence is clearly indefensible.”
‘IT’S BEEN A ROCKY WEEK’
Mr Suneseon had also asked the suspects be detained until the verdict is delivered.
The rapper said he would be willing to carry out community service if that was his sentence.
A$AP, who wore a black suit rather than the green prison clothes, told the judge: “You know my address, you know my lawyer’s address. I’m into charity work.”
The case has drawn huge media attention, particularly since Mr Trump asked Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to help free the rapper.
Sweden’s judiciary is independent of the political system and Mr Lofven has said he will not influence the case.
The court was forced to allocate extra room to accommodate the public wanting to watch through a video link.
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The courtroom gallery is reserved for media and the defendants’ families.
The prosecution alleges that after an argument, A$AP threw Mustafa Jafari, 19, to the ground, after which he and two of his entourage kicked and punched the teenager.
In his testimony, Mr Jafari said he was also hit on the head with a bottle after he followed Mayers’ group to retrieve his headphones.
The prosecution claimed A$AP hurled the bottle at the alleged victim, despite witnesses saying they did not the rapper strike Mr Jarari with it.
A young woman and her friend testified anonymously via video link at Stockholm District Court.
One of the witnesses revised her story from initial police reports, testifying today she didn’t actually see A$SAP hitting a man with a bottle.
Their testimonies were the highlight of the third day of the trial and maintained their previous statements to police that they saw A$AP and his partners beating and kicking Mr Jafari.
But one of the women recanted what she witnessed with the bottle.
She said she heard the bottle being crushed, though she couldn’t say whether the rapper’s entourage threw the bottle to the ground or hit Mr Jafari with it.
Prosecutors say the bottle was hidden in A$AP’s sleeve – as the object became a key point in the trial.
A$AP acknowledged in court on yesterday he threw Mr Jafari to the ground and punched and kicked him, but said the teen attacked his bodyguard.
A$AP said he had tried to avoid the fight and denied hitting Mr Jafari with a bottle.
He told the court he was scared for his group after they were followed by Mr Jafari and his friend.
His bodyguard testified today saying the alleged victim approached them twice.
He tried to explain in the US when one is harassed twice then action can be taken.
The shocking brawl footage – published in the US – was filmed in Stockholm and shows the Harlem-born star grabbing the man and tossing him several feet onto the street.
The star’s pals and minders are then seen kicking and punching the “victim” as he struggles to stagger back to his feet outside a burger bar on Sunday night.
They then walkaway with the man left lying in the gutter.
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