A$AP Rocky has turned down a final prosecution plea offer of 180 days in jail.
The agreement offered to the US rapper, fashion mogul and actor was to plead guilty to one of his two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
But Rocky told a judge on Tuesday he respectfully declined.
The hip hop artist, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers will now face the possibility of a guilty verdict and years in prison as jury selection begins at his trial in Los Angeles.
The Grammy-nominated star, who is the longtime partner of singer Rihanna and father to the couple's two toddler sons, is accused of firing at a former friend near a Hollywood hotel in 2021, and could get a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty.
Rocky's lawyer Joe Tacopina also revealed in court Tuesday that the defence plans to call witnesses to testify that a firearm seen on a security video is a "starter pistol" that Rocky carried as a prop for security purposes. This strategy had not been aired at pre-trial hearings.
A panel of more than 100 prospective jurors was summoned to the Los Angeles courtroom.
Opening statements will come once 12 of them and alternates are seated, most likely on Wednesday at the earliest.
