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 The 30-year-old performer, producer and model, whose real name
is Rakim Mayers, was detained on July 3 in connection with a
street brawl in Stockholm on June 30, and later charged with
assault causing actual bodily harm.
Mayers' lawyer, Slobodan Jovicic, told the judge his client,
sitting next to him in prison clothes of a green t-shirt and
trousers, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault and had
acted in self defense.
Outlining his case using videos from security cameras and
witnesses' mobile phones, prosecutor Daniel Suneson said that
following an altercation, Mayers threw the plaintiff on the
ground, after which he and two of his entourage kicked and
punched him while he was lying on the ground.
The prosecutor also said a bottle was used to hit the
19-year-old man.
Mayers has said the plaintiff provoked him and his two
companions, who are also charged with assault. If convicted at
the Stockholm district court, they could face up to two years in
jail.
The case has drawn huge media attention, forcing the trial to be
moved to a secure courtroom where more than 50 journalists as
well as Mayers' mother watched proceedings.
Both Mayers and the plaintiff will face cross-examination later
on Tuesday.
Mayers' detention before his trial has prompted angry responses
from fans as well as from several artists and other celebrities
ranging from Kim Kardashian to rocker Rod Stewart.
Trump had asked Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to help
free Mayers, and later tweeted messages saying he was "very
disappointed" in Lofven and demanding: "Treat Americans fairly!"
Trump had said he would personally vouch for Mayers' bail.
Sweden does not have a bail system.
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Lofven has said he will not influence the rapper's case. Sweden's
judiciary is independent of the political system.
Present at the courthouse was U.S. diplomat Robert C. O'Brien.
"Special Envoy Ambassador O’Brien traveled to Sweden at the request
of the White House. One of the most important tasks of the
Department of State and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad is to
provide assistance to U.S. citizens who are detained abroad. We
engage on these cases at all levels to fulfill our mission to U.S.
citizens," a spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm said in an
email.
Swedish fan Ivan Waliullah said "I'm here to show support," adding
he thought the three were being charged unfairly.
Mayers, best known for his song "Praise the Lord", was in Stockholm
for a concert. He has had to cancel several scheduled shows across
Europe due to his detention.
Before his arrest, Mayers uploaded videos on Instagram of the
moments before the alleged assault, saying two men were following
his team and that he did not want any trouble.
Mayers shot to fame with his 2011 debut "Live.Love.A$AP". His latest
album, "Testing", reached the No. 4 spot on the Billboard 200 charts
on its release last year.
(Reporting by Helena Soderpalm and Anna Ringstrom, additional
reporting by Simon Johnson, Editing by Alison Williams, Andrew
Heavens and Alexandra Hudson)
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