Bodyguard of ASAP Rocky files counter complaint
Uppdaterad 2019-07-22 | Publicerad 2019-07-12
ASAP Rocky’s bodyguard has filed a counter complaint about assault against one of the men involved in the street brawl in Stockholm.
– It is based on what is seen in film clips, says lawyer Frida Wallin who represents the bodyguard.
Rapper Rakim Mayers and two other people in his entourage are still detained suspected of assault after the street brawl that occured in the central parts of Swedish capital Stockholm on the 30th of June. The bodyguard of Mayers was also initially suspected of assault but was later written off. He has filed a criminal complaint about assault against a man involved in the incident.
– A counter complaint has been made. It is based on what can be seen on film clips, says the bodyguards lawyer Frida Wallin, to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.
ASAP Rocky still in custody
Videos that have emerged from the incident shows Rocky and his entourage engaging in a conversation with two men outside a hamburger restaurant in Stockholm. One of the videos appear to show Rocky lifting a man off his feet and throwing him to the ground.
ASAP Rocky, who was in Stockholm two perform at at the hiphop festival SMASH, was arrested a couple of days after the incident, after finishing the first of the two planned conserts. After a hearing last week he is now detained on "probable grounds for assault," the Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement.
”We didn’t want trouble”
The rapper himself has commented the incident on his Instagram account. On July 2 he posted two videos that he said showed he and his entourage being followed by two men.
“We don’t know these guys and we didn’t want trouble,” ASAP Rocky wrote on Instagram.
The bodyguards counter complaint was reportedly made directly after the incident during an initial hearing with the police. It is not yet known whether the accused person has been interviewed or detained.
Concerts cancelled for the rest of the month
ASAP Rocky's performances in Europe have been cancelled for the rest of the month. "Due to this unfortunate situation he is forced to cancel his European festival and tour dates in July" his management stated.
How long the rapper could stay in detention remains uncertain. His defence lawyer Henrik Olsson Lilja lodged an appeal against the decision from the district court, but that appeal was rejected by the higher court. The investigation will proceed under a preliminary charge of assault and a trial will occur if prosecutor Fredrik Karlsson decide that there is sufficient evidence when the investigation is finished.
Meanwhile Mayers has to stay in a detention center in Stockholm.
Celebrities calling for ASAP’s release
A growing number of both fans and celebrities are calling for the release of ASAP Rocky. On Twitter and other social media several celebrities, including Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lala Anthony, Meek Mill and Kris Jenner have expressed their support.
Many of ASAP Rocky’s fans are using the hashtag #JusticeforRocky and some of them are linking to a Change.org petition demanding the rappers release. On Wednesday afternoon the petition had nearly 400,000 signatures, according to NBC news.