A$AP Rocky Will Stay In Jail Until Trial Due to Assault Charge

It's already been three weeks that A$AP Rocky has been kept behind bars following the controversial brawl which occured in Sweden on the 30th of June. As a result, he had no choice but to cancel a few shows and musc festivals performances, including one on Irish shores at Longitude. And it seems safe to say that things are not looking any better for him and two members of his entourage who were officially charged today on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Clearly, the rapper's claim that the fight had been instigated by two men has not convinced Swedish prosecutor Daniel Suneson. "I have today commenced criminal proceedings against the three individuals suspected of assault causing actual bodily harm, having come to the conclusion that the events in question constitute a crime despite claims of self-defence and provocation," he said this morning.

The charges relate to one alleged victim only, who remains unidentified, after allegations were dropped about another one due to "insufficient supporting eveidence." Rocky and the other two suspects are set to remain in custody until trial from which the start date will be revealed by the Stockholm District Court next week. According to the Associated Press, they could face up to two years in jail in Sweden.

In the meantime, the rapper's manager John Ehmann has said that Rocky is being held in "horrific" conditions, including "24/7 solitary confinement, restriction of amenities for the most basic of human functions, lack of access to life sustaining food as well as unsanitary conditions." He also pointed out that the US Embassy Consult was not allowed to visit the rapper although this should be a right, protected by the article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to which Sweden is a signatory.

A nationwide campaign of support is taking place in the States following the events, with many of the rapper's friends from the music industry backing it, such as Post Malone, Nicki Minaj, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Tyler the Creator, Tyga, Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber and many others. More than celebs, the 30-year-old has had a major ally in trying to help his cause: US President Donald Trump himself. Lobbied by the the West power-couple who urged him to secure Rocky's release, he tweeted last Friday that he had decided to intervene.

Quickly acting on his words, he spoke with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven on Saturday and “offered to personally vouch for his bail,” but this move is not recognised under Swedish law. Lofven’s press secretary, Toni Eriksson, later said that the two leaders had a “friendly and respectful” conversation in which Lofven “made certain to emphasize the complete independence of the Swedish judicial system, prosecutors and courts.” He also insisted that the Swedish government is in no way capable of influencing legal proceedings.

Renee Blak, A$AP Rocky's mother, expressed concerns for her son yesterday, in Swedish newspaper Expressen. "He was just telling me that he wasn't really eating properly, you know. He can't wait to get back into the gym," she said.

Asked how she felt about the situation she answered: "I don't wanna say it, I really don't. I don't wanna rock any boats, I don't wanna cause any trouble, but then again that's my son," before concluding: "I want him to be released and I plead that he can come home."

In the wake of the fight, the rapper, aka Pretty Flacko, had posted the following video snippet on his Instagram account, attempting to prove that himself and his entourage were not looking for trouble, but rather trying to avoid it.

He made a different post on the same day including a longer version of that same video. A$AP and his group can be seen getting annoyed over the fact that two men are following them around. Seconds later, one of them is seen hitting the rapper's security guard in the face with headphones.

Flacko is filmed saying "listen, we don't want to fight you," and "it's ok bro chill" but things remained tensed. Directly addressing the camera, he then said: "look, just for the cameras, we don't want no problems with these boys...they keep touching us and following us." A woman who was with him all along during when things turned sour also claimed that she was groped by one of those men.

However, a video which circulated on social media later showed Rocky violently pushing a man onto the ground - an action that his lawyer, Slobodan Jovicic, qualified as self-defense. "We think it was self-defense, but the prosecutor has chosen to go with the injured party's version," he said.

“It is worth noting that I have had access to a greater amount of material than that which has previously been available on the internet,” explained prosecutor Suneson this morning. He added that: “in addition to video material, the injured party’s statements have been supported by witness statements” and claimed that the victim was assaulted with a whole, or part of, a glass bottle.

As speculation grows about the outcome of this affair, only the judge will be able to tell, and it's been clearly communicated that he won't let his opinion being swayed.