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Rapper A $ AP Rocky told a Swedish court that he had tried to avoid the brawl in downtown Stockholm which had led him into custody and threatened to "get away with it. charge of aggression.
The case has attracted media attention while celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Rod Stewart, have defended the American artist, producer and model (30).
US President Donald Trump has asked Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to help him release him.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was arrested on June 30 following a brawl in front of a burgers restaurant in Stockholm.
Two of his relatives were also charged with badault causing bodily harm.
The three men pleaded not guilty Tuesday at the beginning of the trial. Mr. Mayers' lawyer stated that the rapper acted in self-defense.
When testifying for the first time, Mr. Mayers stated that he was scared after his group was followed by the plaintiff, a 19-year-old man, and his friend.
"We wanted to defuse the situation and move away from these guys," Mayers told the court.
When the two men attacked his bodyguard, he reacted by grabbing Mustafa Jafari, 19, and throwing him to the ground.
"At this point, I intervened, threw him on the ground, and stomped on his arm, kicked him, and hit or pushed him," said Mayers. .
Mr Mayers told the court that he had been the victim of a number of attacks in recent years and that the situation in Stockholm had made him paranoid.
"We are in a foreign country, we are approached by two aliens with aggressive behavior: 10 months ago, when I was with my cousin … I was stabbed in the face by strangers", he told the court.
He was also shown pictures showing that he was holding a bottle.
The rapper did not deny having shown that he was holding a glbad bottle in his hand – but added that he had picked it up briefly before resting it.
He stated that his home had been stolen twice under the threat of a revolver in the last two years and that his security officer and himself had also been attacked in an elevator from Oakland to United States, by drug addicts.
"I do not know what to expect in case of attack by strangers, that 's why I have security.
"At that time, I did not think," he said.
On Tuesday, Mr. Jafari told the court that he had been pushed and grabbed by the neck by Mr. Mayers's bodyguard in front of the restaurant and that he had followed the rapper's group to retrieve a helmet.
He added that he had been hit in the head with a bottle and that the three men had kicked and punched him while he was on the ground.
Mr. Jafari continued his story Thursday morning.
Mr. Mayers, known for his song "Praise the Lord", was in Stockholm for a concert. He canceled several shows across Europe due to his detention.
The trial must end today. The court will then announce a date for the verdict and will say if Mr. Mayers is to remain in detention until that time.
Independent Irish
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