LEGAL RAP
A$AP Rocky's bodyguard allegedly choked a teenager while dragging him down the street in new footage the prosecutor says disproves the rapper's self-defence claim.
Mustafa Jafari, 19, who claims he was attacked by US rapper A$AP Rocky in a street brawl in Sweden, has since demanded £12,000 in damages.
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The newly obtained videos, shown from two different cameras placed in different angles from inside a restaurant, shows the rapper's bodyguard pick the teen up and drag him down the road after waving his arm at him, possibly signalling him to go.
After the altercation, A$AP Rocky and two members of his team were seen walking behind towards the bodyguard.
Prosecutor Daniel Suneson says the new videos disprove the rapper's previous self-defence claim, reported .
He said in court: "This version shows the initial course of events before the abuse. It is about a confrontation with the guard. It disproves emergency defence.
"It's about a surveillance film from Max hamburger restaurant. And it's about a mobile video that a completely independent witness has taken."
CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF ORDEAL
Despite the fight video, other clips posted by the star on Instagram filmed just before the brutal fight clearly show the rapper trying to play the peacemaker.
One video starts with A$AP's giant bodyguard politely telling the guy - who was hassling the star and his crew - to leave them alone.
A$AP, 30, then calmly puts his hand on the guy's shoulder and tells him: "Listen, listen. We don't wanna fight y'all. We don't wanna go to jail.
“We don’t want to hurt y’all. Go that way bro.”
The original video, posted to the rapper's Instagram page, also showed the teen pestering him and his team.
The clip, filmed in Stockholm, showed the Harlem-born star grabbing the teen and tossing him several feet onto the street, after he asked the teen to "leave us alone".
The video also showed Rocky asking the teenagers to leave them alone and to "stop following us", however as the video continued, the young men did not leave the rapper's entourage.
One of the star's group is then heard saying: "I could really beat the s*** out of him."
The star then looks into the camera and says: "We don't want no problems with these boys. They keep following us. Look at them."
In A$AP's videos, a pair of young men can be seen following him in the street despite repeatedly being told by the rapper's massive minder to go away.
Rapper A$AP Rocky arrested over mass brawl in Sweden as video shows star was peacemaking before entourage battered man unconscious
TRUMP'S APPEAL
At one point, one of the men hits the giant with a set of headphones, which the bodyguard then smashes on the ground.
His crew are even seen asking a local female fan to help talk to the men in another bid to stop things getting out of hand.
“I'm innocent,” A$AP later wrote. "They followed us for 4 blocks, and they were slapping girls b***s who passed, give me a break."
The star admitted punching a man and throwing him to the ground as his trial for assault got underway in Sweden.
But the rapper insisted he was acting in in self-defence and has pleaded not-guilty in a case that prompted President Donald Trump to intervene on his behalf.
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Jafari asked the court to award him 139,700 Swedish krona after he was allegedly hit, kicked and slashed with a bottle by the musician and two of his friends.
The 30-year-old performer, producer and model - real name is Rakim Mayers - was detained on July 3 in connection with a street brawl in Stockholm on June 30.
His lawyer, Slobodan Jovicic, told the judge his client pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault and had acted in self-defence.
“He admits that he threw the plaintiff on the ground, that he stepped on his arm and punched or pushed his shoulder,” said Mr Jovicic.
If convicted at the Stockholm district court, the accused could face up to two years in jail.
RAPPER CLAIMS HE WAS PROVOKED
The rapper appeared in court wearing prison clothes of a green t-shirt and trousers.
A$AP Rocky said his accuser provoked him and his two companions, who are also charged with assault.
Prosecutor Daniel Suneson outlined his case using videos from security cameras and witnesses' mobile phones.
He said that following an altercation, the rapper threw the victim on the ground
After that, the accused and two of his entourage kicked and punched him while he was lying on the ground, said Mr Suneson.
The prosecutor also said a bottle was used to hit the victim.
The case has drawn huge media attention, forcing the trial to be moved to a secure courtroom where more than 50 journalists as well as the rapper’s mother watched proceedings.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Both the rapper and the victim will face cross-examination later on Tuesday.
A$AP Rocky - best known for his song "Praise the Lord" - was in Stockholm for a concert and has cancelled several scheduled shows across Europe due to his detention.
Before his arrest, he 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.
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US rapper A$AP Rocky, real name is Rakim Mayers, goes on trial charged with assault after a confrontation in Stockholm
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