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 The 30-year-old performer, producer and model, whose real name
is Rakim Mayers, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault on
the first day of a trial that prompted U.S. President Donald
Trump to intervene on the artist's behalf.
Mayer was detained on July 3 in connection with a street brawl
on June 30 and later charged with assault causing actual bodily
harm.
Outlining his case using videos from security cameras and
witnesses' mobile phones, prosecutor Daniel Suneson said that
following an altercation in central Stockholm, Mayers threw
19-year-old Mustafa Jafari to the ground, after which he and two
of his entourage kicked and punched him.
The prosecutor said a bottle was used to hit Jafari, who
suffered cuts and bruises.
Jafari told the court he was pushed and grabbed by the neck by
Mayers' bodyguard outside a restaurant and followed the rapper's
group to get back his headphones. He said he was then hit on the
head with a bottle and kicked and punched while on the ground.
"We did not want to fight," Jafari said. "I said to them I was a
nice guy, not a bad guy. I did not touch any of these three."
PRISON CLOTHES
Earlier, Mayers' lawyer told the judge his client, sitting in
prison clothes of a green T-shirt and trousers, pleaded not
guilty to the charge of assault and had acted in self defense.
"Rakim Mayers thought that these people .. were attacking his
bodyguard and it is on those grounds he subsequently acts,"
lawyer Slobodan Jovicic told the court.
Mayers will be questioned when the trial resumes on Thursday.
Mayers has said Jafari provoked him and his two companions, who
are also charged with assault and pleaded not guilty. 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.
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Mayers' detention before his trial prompted angry responses from
fans and other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Rod
Stewart.
Trump had asked Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to help free
Mayers, and tweeted messages saying he was 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.
Sweden's judiciary is independent of the political system and Lofven
has said he will not influence the rapper's case.
U.S. diplomat Robert C. O'Brien was in court 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," a spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy
in Stockholm said.
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 canceled several 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 he did not want any trouble.
Mayers shot to fame with his 2011 debut "Live.Love.A$AP". His latest
album "Testing" reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 charts on its
release last year.
The trial could run into a third day on Friday. The verdict is
expected at a later date.
(Reporting by Helena Soderpalm and Anna Ringstrom, additional
reporting by Simon Johnson, Writing by Simon Johnson and Anna
Ringstrom; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
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