- Title: USA: Singer Chris Brown draws courthouse crowd for arraignment
- Date: 6th March 2009
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 05, 2009) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) RIHANNA'S ATTORNEY DONALD ETRA ON THE JUDGE'S ORDER, SAYING: "The one issue that arose in court concerning to her rights was whether or not the court should issue a stay away order. In this case, Rihanna requested that no such order be issued, so the court issued what is known as a low
- Embargoed: 21st March 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA2SGN28G3619RGMAQ1QEOIVIC
- Story Text: Chris Brown appears in court to postpone arraignment on assault charges.
Singer Chris Brown was charged on Thursday (March 05) with felony assault and making criminal threats in what prosecutors say was a Grammy-eve attack on his girlfriend, the pop star Rihanna.
The 19-year old singer appeared in court for an arraignment on Thursday afternoon, but his lawyers filed paperwork to postpone the arraignment for another month. Brown could face up to four years in prison if convicted of both charges. The arraignment will now take place on April 6.
The judge issued an order barring Brown from "harassing, threatening or using force" against anyone. But the singer was not ordered to refrain from contact with Rihanna, with whom he reportedly has reconciled.
"The one issue that arose in court concerning to her rights was whether or not the court should issue a stay away order," explained Rihanna's attorney Donald Etra. "In this case, Rihanna requested that no such order be issued, so the court issued what is known as a low level one protective order, ordering Chris Brown not to annoy, molest or harass her. We feel that is more than sufficient in this case."
Outside, the event took on a "circus" like atmosphere as a swarm of paparazzi surrounded the courthouse. The singer was believed to have been escorted to the hearing through an underground garage.
Prosecutors said Brown attacked Rihanna, 21, late on the night before the February 8 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
According to the documents, Brown tried to push Rihanna from his rented Lamborghini but couldn't because she was wearing a seatbelt.
Brown then shoved Rihanna's head against the passenger window and repeatedly punched her in the face, spattering blood in the car and on her clothing and filling her mouth with blood, according to reports.
Reportedly, Brown then continued to punch Rihanna, bit her ear and finger and put her into a headlock until she nearly lost consciousness.
The charges were filed a week after Brown and Rihanna, who dated for about a year, were reported by celebrity magazines to have reconciled.
Loyola University law professor Stan Goldman told Reuters he's unsure what effect the couple's reconciliation will have on the prosecution's case.
"That is not all that uncommon in domestic violence cases, even when they are real, that the parties reconcile long before the trial,"
said Goldman. "We've had many celebrity cases in domestic violence in which the original victim was not cooperating for the prosecution and yet the prosecution ended up proceeding because they agreed to testify. It would be interesting to see what the results will be in this case."
Brown broke onto the Billboard charts in 2005 at the age of 16 with his single "Run It!" and sold 2 million copies of his self-titled debut album.
Rihanna also released her debut album in 2005 and had a number one hit single with "S.O.S" less than a year later. She followed with three more number ones: "Umbrella," "Take a Bow" and "Disturbia." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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