ASAP Rocky’s attorney is feeling pretty hyped about his client’s chances in this gun assault trial.
When TMZ caught up with Joe Tacopina on Monday, seen in the clip above, they asked how he’s feeling with the jury now deliberating. While he played it cool saying you can never really “know what a jury is thinking,” Tacopina’s betting big on a win for Rocky, and fast.
“I feel great,” Tacopina shared Monday. “I mean, look, this case went perfectly for us. I’ve believed in Rocky’s innocence from day one. Rocky has maintained it. By virtue of the fact that he’s turned down a plea that would have been … like six months and he’s facing obviously a lot more than that, I think shows you his resolve and his belief in his innocence and belief in the jurors. This case, it should be a five-minute acquittal.”
Tacopina thinks the jury gets “the magnitude of the moment.” He also fired back at prosecutors bringing up Rihanna showing up to court.
“She’s been there almost every day,” he said. “She obviously loves him. They are a great couple. Obviously, I’ve known Rocky for a long time. I’ve known Rih for a long time. And seeing them together in a time like this, in a time of need, is something really special. She’s really there supporting him in full force. They’re a family, so why would that be odd or unique?”
Tacopina doubled down, calling out prosecutors for being “obsessed with Rihanna,” though he never brought her up in court.
“We have factual defenses,” he pointed out. “They seem to be obsessed with Rihanna and her being there.”
Going back to his prediction of a quick verdict, Tacopina highlighted how reasonable doubt is a game-changer, saying this case has “about 100” examples of it. He also dropped a fun tidbit about talking with Gucci about Rocky’s Gucci Guilty fragrance campaign. Tacopina said he “asked them to hold the campaign,” even joking, “Can you change it to Gucci Not Guilty?”
Check out more of Tacopina’s take above.
Rocky’s drama kicked off with his April 2022 arrest, when LAPD said they nabbed him for a Hollywood shooting from November 2021. While the LAPD’s initial announcement didn’t name names, ASAP Relli was later revealed as the alleged victim. Cops say things popped off when “an argument between two acquaintances” – allegedly Rocky and Relli – led to gunfire.
The trial had its spicy moments, like when Tacopina and Relli went at it during January’s cross-examination. Things got even hotter recently when Tacopina and Deputy District Attorney John Lewin’s courtroom clash got so heated the judge had to shut it down with a stern “knock it off!”
We might know Rocky’s fate as early as Tuesday.
