Chris Brown arrived about 30 minutes late for his court appearance.
Brown was in court for less than 15 minutes as he quickly entered his plea and left the courtroom. The singer and his lawyer didn't answer any questions afterward. The only words the singer uttered was a hushed "not guilty, your honor," after Judge Patricia Schnegg read the charges against him.
Mark Geragos, who is representing Brown in the case, said in court that more discovery is needed. The lawyer is seeking a plea deal and the negotiations have been characterized as "serious," according to a report this past weekend from TMZ. A number of unrelated reports have stated that the parties might be close to reaching a deal.
An attorney representing Rihanna, Donald Etra, spoke with reporters immediately afterward, only offering limited answers regarding his client. Etra confirmed that Rihanna is in her native Barbados and was not present at the courthouse because she was not required to attend the hearing. Rihanna, 21, is doing fine and is willing to testify in the case if subpoenaed, Etra said.
The legal counsel also said Rihanna is interested in the case being processed as soon as possible. Etra would not say whether Rihanna had been in contact with Brown leading up to his court appearance. Etra would only say the Def Jam singer is leaving the proceedings up to the court.
When asked directly if Rihanna thinks Brown is innocent or guilty, Etra said, "Her position on the case is to leave the matters of guilt or innocence to the judge and or defense counsel."
Brown is set to return to court April 29 in Los Angeles. [MTV]
Chris Brown pleaded not guilty Monday to threatening and assaulting his girlfriend, fellow music star Rihanna.
The 19-year-old R&B singer entered his plea, speaking in a soft voice, while standing alongside his lawyer, Mark Geragos. His mother sat in the first row, red-eyed.
Within moments of the hearing, a lawyer for Rihanna said the singer was hoping a plea deal could be reached before the case goes to trial. “She would be pleased if this was over quickly,” attorney Donald Etra said. He reiterated that Rihanna would testify if required. Brown was charged in March by Los Angeles County prosecutors with felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats. He was arrested nearly a month earlier after police said he was involved in an early morning altercation with a woman who identified the “Run It!” singer as her attacker.
Court records list Brown’s victim as “Robyn F.” Rihanna’s real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty.
Etra represented the 21-year-old “Umbrella” singer at Monday’s arraignment, but did not speak during the five-minute hearing. He said afterward that that the singer is in “fine spirits” and spending time with her family in Barbados.
Etra said Brown’s plea was “totally expected.”
If convicted, Brown could be sentenced to probation or nearly five years in prison.
Neither side has publicly addressed Brown and Rihanna’s relationship since the incident.
But there has been discernible fallout and backlash since Brown’s arrest.
Neither singer performed at the Grammy Awards hours after the alleged beating, and both were also no-shows for the Kids’ Choice Awards show March 28. [MSNBC]
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