June 17th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff
The next big step in the Chris Brown assault trial is slated to happen next Monday, when both the accused singer and his alleged victim, ex-girlfriend Rihanna, were expected to be in court for a hearing. But it looks like Brown’s legal team is doing their best to push that date further into the future.
Mark Geragos, who is representing Chris in the case, has asked the California Supreme Court to delay Monday’s scheduled hearing until it decides on a pending matter surrounding leaked photos of Rihanna taken soon after the February incident.
Last month, Geragos had failed in his attempt to have a Los Angeles Superior Court compel the LAPD to provide information regarding the leaked photo. He has since appealed to the state’s Supreme Court, who have yet to make a decision on the matter. Now Geragos is hoping the Supremes will push back Monday’s hearing until they’ve ruled on his request for information.
If he is unsuccessful in convincing the Supreme Court, Geragos and his client are expected in an L.A. court on Monday where Rihanna’s lawyers have said the pop star will testify if asked to do so.
RECENT PICS OF RIHANNA:
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May 28th, 2009
Despite speculatoin that Rihanna would be hesitant to testify against her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, who allegedly assaulted her in February after a party, her attorney says that she will be called to take the stand in his felony assault case.
"The judge advised me that there will be a subpoena for Rihanna as a witness at the preliminary hearing," Donald Etra told E! News after a morning hearing. "She will definitely comply."
As for the "Umbrella" singer’s current state of mind, Etra said, "She’s doing fine. She’s monitoring closely the proceedings of this case."
To make it even tougher for Rihanna, Chris will also be present at the hearing and will listen to her testimony.
"He has to be here anytime a witness is called," Chris’ attorney Mark Geragos said
According to Geragos, the prosecution will outline their case against the embattled R&B star. The D.A. is expected to call the officers who were first to respond to the scene and find the bloodied Rihanna. After the proceeding is complete, the judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to go to trial.
April 29th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff
Today was supposed to have been the day that either A) a date for the first pretrial hearing in Chris Brown’s alleged assault against Rihanna was to be set or B) that they had reached a plea agreement with the District Attorney to avoid a trial altogether. But in the end, it was option C) neither.
In an L.A. courtroom on Wednesday morning, Brown’s lawyer Mark Geragos told the judge that his team had still not seen necessary files and photos that were to have already been turned over by the LAPD. Without much fuss from the DA, the judge rescheduled most of today’s agenda to May 28, with the stipulation that a preliminary hearing be scheduled by June 10 at the latest.
Regarding the $1.4 million in jewelry that Rihanna had been wearing on the night of the incident and which is now being held by the LAPD, the court declared that it will be returned to its rightful owners (i.e., the companies that lent the bling to Rihanna in the first place). The singer’s attorney, Donald Etra, will be allowed to be present when the LAPD photograph the jewelry, which will then be handed over to private security firms for its safe return.
"Rihanna is doing fine," Etra, who was at the courthouse today, told OK!. "She will testify if she is asked to… nothing has changed in that regard. Both the LAPD and the District Attorney’s office have been most cooperative."
April 13th, 2009
Though Chris Brown and Rihanna had appeared to reconcile following his arrest for allegedly assaulting the singer, it doesn’t look like the on-off-on couple is making any attempt to even pretend that they’re still an item.
On Saturday, X17online.com reported that Chris was joined by an attractive young lady — believed to be Natalie Mejia from the group Girlicious — at a tattoo parlor on Sunset Blvd., where he selected his next bit of body art (We’re guessing it’s not "Rihanna").
And then on Saturday night, a Rihanna-free Chris enjoyed a boys’ night out with Tyrese, Omarion and actor Keith Robinson at Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge in L.A. Chris arrived around 11:45PM, and Omarion and arrived shortly after and met him in the luXe Lounge.
Hanging out with his guy pals in the exclusive luXe lounge, witnesses tell OK! that Chris "appeared happy and was dancing around," and "was being very flirty with the wait staff."
"One of the female bartenders came into the private room to cash-out and Chris noticed her immediately," an insider tells OK!. "It seemed as if he was definitely into her."
Chris’ next court date for the assault charges is April 29, at which point it’s expected a plea bargain will be entered, one that could possibly even include some jail time for the star.
April 6th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff
After several weeks delay, Chris Brown finally had to face the music this afternoon and answer for charges assaulting and making threats against on-off-on girlfriend Rihanna.
And while some early reports had claimed that the singer would enter a plea deal with the L.A. District Attorney, the teenager instead entered pleas of Not Guilty on all charges.
The singer was accompanied by his attorney, Mark Geragos, to Monday’s arraignment, which last around 20 minutes. The charges stem from a Feb. 8 incident that left Rihanna beaten and bruised.
At the arraignment, Chris waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing within 10 days. His lawyers are currently due back in court on April 29, though he is not required nor expected to be there.
<a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/13133/1" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/25160.gif" width="120"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/13133/2" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/25159.gif" width="120"/></a> <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/pixandvids/gallery/13133/3" target="_blank"><img src="http://d-images.okmagazine.com/img/photos/large/25158.gif" width="120"/></a>
Afterward, Rihanna’s attorney Donald Etra told reporters that the reason for not speeding forward toward trial is "so both sides can review the files and have time to discuss the case, meaning a solution can be achieved can be achieved without a hearing or a trial."
Etra also stated that it’s possible that Chris may be willing to accept a plea bargain that would include "some jail time."
However, he reminded everyone that "it’s not up to [Rihanna] to decide what kind of deal she wants; It’s up to the D.A. and Mr. Geragos."
March 18th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff
As reported by <em>OK</em>! over the weekend, <a href="http://okmagazine.com/search/rihanna" target="_blank"><strong>Rihanna</strong></a> spent a <a href="http://okmagazine.com/search/Brown" target="_blank"><strong>Chris Brown</strong></a>-free weekend in the Big Apple, first by belatedly celebrating her birthday at an <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/news/view/12536/Rihanna-Parties-Hard-in-the-Big-Apple" target="_blank">all-night bash with Jay-Z and Beyoncé</a> and then by joining a couple of friends for <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/news/view/12539/Rihanna-Enjoys-Quiet-Dinner-with-Friends" target="_blank">a quiet dinner at Da Silvano</a>.
And according to an item on <a href="http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b104900_chris_brown_rihanna_taking_break.html?sid=rss_topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories" target="_blank">eonline.com</a>, it looks like Rihanna’s vacation from the boyfriend who is alleged to have beaten her on Feb. 8, might be more than a weekend getaway.
The article cites a source close to the couple as saying the tumultuous lovebirds are "taking a break." But before you get your hopes up high that Rihanna’s thinking straight, the source indicates that the couple have not gone their separate ways.
MORE RIHANNA PICS:
March 17th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff
Amy Winehouse might be guilty of many things, but the troubled singer says she didn’t assault a woman in London last year, in a case that’s keeping her from obtaining a U.S. visa.
The "Rehab" star pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, the Press Association reports. A woman named Sherene Flash says Amy assaulted her after the Berkeley Ball in September.
However Amy’s chance of getting to perform in the U.S. are slim, as the case has been adjourned until July 23.
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