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Rapper A $ AP Rocky and two other US suspects have been temporarily released from a Swedish jail. They plan to return to the United States Friday, after the judges have ruled on the verdict in the case of their badault.
The Stockholm District Court released the 30-year-old rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, as well as David Rispers Jr. and Bladimir Corniel until August 14, when a verdict is expected. They are accused of beating 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari on June 30 in front of a fast-food restaurant in central Stockholm.
The three suspects were seen kissing in court after learning that they would be released, some of the public gathered inside the courthouse clapping loudly.
Richard Shotwell / AP
A $ AP Rocky thanked his fans for their support during this "very difficult" time.
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Mayers' mother, Renee Black, who attended the hearing, was with her son when he was released. A private plane was waiting at Stockholm Arlanda airport to bring back suspects and Black to the United States on Friday night, according to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.
Mayers shared an emotional message on Instagram after her release, thanking her fans for their support during this "very difficult and humiliating experience".
President Donald Trump, who caused a stir in US-Swedish diplomatic relations after publicly offering his support to the Grammy-nominated artist, celebrated Mayers' publication by tweeting: "C & # It was a rocky week, come home as soon as possible! "
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven heard a Trump appeal in July but said he could not intervene in a court case.
Robert O. Brien, US presidential special envoy responsible for overseeing judicial proceedings, pointed out that Washington "was grateful to be able to attend and observe the judicial process" in Sweden.
The case also attracted the attention of celebrities, including Sean "Diddy" Combs and Justin Bieber, as well as a social media campaign that called for the rapper's release.
Mayers' release comes after the end of his three-day trial on Friday.
Fredrik Persson / AP
A $ AP Rocky, right, was seen celebrating after being temporarily released from a Swedish jail
One of the witnesses to the badault corrected her narrative from the initial police reports, claiming that she had not seen Mayers hit Jafari with a bottle – a key issue on which the trial is concentrated. She and a friend, testifying anonymously in the Stockholm District Court, both upheld their earlier statements to the police that they had seen Mayers and his partners attack Jafari.
"Everything happened very quickly, we were afraid for our lives," said the first Swedish woman in court. "He (Jafari) was bleeding, he showed his wounds on his hand, he also said he had back pain."
The rapper pleaded not guilty at the beginning of the trial Tuesday, claiming that he had acted in self-defense when Jafari and another man would not leave them alone. He was behind bars since his arrest on July 3rd.
Mayers bodyguard Timothy Leon Williams also testified on Friday, telling a story similar to the one the rapper told in court when he appeared at the helm earlier in the week.
Williams said he asked Jafari to "go away" when he approached the group a second time in front of the restaurant.
"I knew something was wrong with him, I notice because I'm a bodyguard," Williams said in English. "And now, I look at it like," Yo, what's wrong with you? "I look at him and see that his eyes were really bright, as he was on something."
Mayers had also said earlier this week that he suspected Jafari and his friend of being under the influence of a drug, on which officials have not commented yet. .
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