Rapper A$AP Rocky released from Swedish jail ahead of assault verdict
Donald Trump welcomes a Swedish court's ruling to free A$AP Rocky and two other US suspects until a verdict on 14 August.
Saturday 3 August 2019 14:21, UK
A$AP Rocky has been released from jail in Sweden ahead of a verdict in his assault trial.
Along with two other men believed to be members of his entourage, the American rapper is accused of beating 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari in Stockholm on the evening of 30 June.
Following a three-day trial, Senior District Court Judge Per Lennerbrant is due to hand down a verdict on 14 August.
US President Donald Trump has previously lobbied for A$AP Rocky's release, telling Swedish leader Stefan Lofven he would "personally vouch for his bail".
Commenting on the rapper's bail, Mr Trump 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, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was reported to be heading to the airport to catch a private plane out of the country.
On Instagram, he thanked the court for allowing him and his co-defendants "to return to our family and friends".
Mayers was detained after a brawl in downtown Stockholm. He and two of his entourage were charged with
assault causing actual bodily harm.
The rapper told the court that he had acted in self-defence after his bodyguard was attacked. He had been behind bars since his arrest on 3 July.
All three suspects have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors are seeking a six-month sentence for the rapper, while he told court he thought community service would be a proper punishment.
The rapper's release came after a witness revised her story from initial police reports, testifying in court earlier on Friday that she didn't actually see Mayers hitting a man with a bottle.
The witness testified anonymously.