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R&B singer Chris Brown stands next to his attorney Mark Geragos pleads not guilty in the Los Angeles court to charges stemming from an alleged attack on his girlfriend, pop singer Rihanna - Source: Reuters -
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R&B star Chris Brown pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles
court to charges stemming from an alleged attack on his girlfriend,
pop singer Rihanna.
Brown, 19, entered the pleas during his arraignment in Los Angeles
Superior Court.
Rihanna's attorney, Donald Etra, told reporters after the hearing
that Rihanna hoped a plea bargain could be struck but that she
would testify against Brown if required.
Geragos and Brown did not speak to reporters.
Judge Patricia Schnegg set an April 29 status hearing for
Brown.
Los Angeles prosecutors have said Brown attacked Rihanna, 21,
during a roadside dispute in his rented Lamborghini last
February.
A photo of Rihanna's bruised and battered face was leaked onto
the internet.
Brown later issued a statement saying he was sorry and saddened
about the incident, and was seeking counselling.
The formal charges accuse Brown of assaulting Rihanna by means of
force likely to produce great bodily injury and threatening to
commit a crime which would result in death and great bodily
injury.
He could face up to four years in prison if convicted.
A police affidavit said Brown shoved Rihanna's head against the
passenger window, repeatedly punched her in the face, bit her ear
and finger, and put her into a headlock.
At one stage, the affidavit said, Brown told Rihanna: "I'm going
to kill you."
Brown broke onto the Billboard charts in 2005 at the age of 16 with
his single Run It! and sold two million copies of his self-titled
debut album.
Barbados-born Rihanna also released her debut album in 2005 and had
a No 1 hit single with S.O.S. less than a year later.
She followed with three more No 1's - Umbrella, Take a Bow and Disturbia.
