Chris Brown might’ve been sitting courtside at the Lakers vs. Orlando Magic game earlier this week, and it looks like he’ll have prime seats at another court soon: The California Supreme Court has refused to postpone the hearing scheduled for Monday that will determine whether or not there’s enough evidence for him to stand trial for allegedly beating Rihanna.
Chris’ lawyer Mark Geragos had attempted to push back the hearing while he attempted to get information about the picture leaked to the press of Rihanna’s battered and bruised face. So far, he’s been denied in that effort as well.
At Monday’s hearing, Rihanna is expected to cooperate with the prosecution and testify at the proceedings.
The Britney Spears saga continues – while she’s on tour. On Tuesday afternoon, 8 lawyers appeared at downtown’s L.A. Superior Court to discuss just how threatened and harassed – or not – the pop star actually is.
Brit’s side wants to cement restraining orders against her forme BFF, Sam Lutfi and her wannabe attorney, Jon Eardley, arguing that the pair are "predators who patently threatened and extorted her through emails," says lawyer for the conservators Joel Boxer.
Lutfi, who has famously called himself Britney’s manager, says he and Eardley have been nothing more than good samaritans who wanted to help someone who couldn’t help herself.
Testimony shows that Sam slipped Britney a cell phone through his sister, and that she texted the pop star 45 times, despite Sam signing an agreement last July to stay away from Britney.
"Mr. Lutfi is a very, very, very busy man, and at the end of the day what does he do? He sues her for millions of dollars," says Boxer. Boxer wants Eardley to leave his client alone as well, telling the judge he needs to, "go be a good samaritan or a Don Quixote to another damsel in distress."
Then there’s Sam’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, who says Britney never suffered the level of harassment and emotional stress which would require a restraining order. "Sam sent 10 text messages to her hairdresser," Freedman says. "None of which were directed to Britney Spears. Not one had a curse word or used vulgar language or had a threat in it."
He adds, "In fact, Britney called Sam and was crying out for help, asking for a cell phone and asking for a lawyer."
Yikes! And all that was before the closing arguments, which were cut short due to time. The whole thing will pick up again on April 28. Oh Britney, you never fail to amuse.
Brazilian race car driver and former Dancing with the Stars contestant Helio Castroneves has been acquitted on six counts of tax evasion charges. A federal jury did hang on one count of conspiracy. Heli0’s sister and business manager, Katiucia Castroneves, 35, was also acquitted but a jury was hung on a conspiracy charge as well.
The IndyCar driver was accused of evading more than $2.3 million in US income taxes. The jury deliberated six days after a six-week trial.
In his native Portuguese, Helio said he was extremely relieved. "I just want to thank God, and my fans, and all of the people who prayed for me," he said outside the courtroom.
"It has been a very difficult place to be in," he added, saying that his faith had seen him through. The DWTS alum faced more than six years in prison if convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion between 1999 and 2004. Castroneves is a two-time Indy 500 winner.
Chris Brown will finally be facing up to the charges leveled against him this afternoon. His court case was postponed a month ago and then pushed back from this morning, EOnline.com reports.
The singer was booked almost two months ago in L.A. after an altercation with his girlfriend, Rihanna, the night before the Grammy Awards.
Chris’ attorney Mark Geragos will be representing him at this afternoon’s arraignment for two felony counts: one for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and making criminal threats.
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.
Amid the swarm of paparazzi and press surrounding the Criminal Courts building in downtown L.A. on Thursday, Chris Brown arrived to face his bevy of felony charges before a court commissioner.
Accompanied by his mother, tears streaming down her face, Brown arrived just after 3:30 pm at department 30 in the Criminal Courts building. Wearing an all grey, pinstriped three-piece suit complete with diamond studs in his ears and a pinkie ring, an court eyewitness tells OK! that Brown appeared humble and contrite as he stood before Commissioner Kristi Lousteau, his hands clasped behind his back.
Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, asked for and received a continuance until April 6. But the commissioner told Brown: "I order you not to annoy, harass, threat, molest or do any act of violence against anyone"–to which Brown replied, "Yes, your Honor."
Brown also asked the commissioner to waive his right to be present at court for any future procedural hearings. In addition, the judge did not grant a “no-contact order.”
Extra is reporting that during the 4-minute hearing, Rihanna’s attorney, Donald Etra, approached Brown and said, "I think Rihanna would like this over as quickly as possible. It benefits everybody." The pair was standing in front of the microphone immediately following Chris Brown’s hearing this afternoon.
Brown then told Etra, "I’m a little confused on the terms of everything so…and the proceedings and what’s going on." Etra responded, "Mark [Geragos] will explain it and I’ll explain it to Rihanna." Stepping in Geragos said, "I’ve explained it to you that the best thing that could happen in this case is Don is involved. Didn’t I tell you that?" Etra added, "And I would say to you that the best thing to you is that Mark is involved."
Brown faces two felony counts: one for Assault By Means Likely to Create Great Bodily Injury and Making Criminal Threats.
The charges were filed earlier today by the Los Angeles County District Attorney, however Brown did not show for the morning session, despite the throngs of media, curious onlookers and fans waiting anxiously outside the L.A. courthouse for him to appear.
OK! reported earlier on the shocking details behind Chris and Rihanna’s fight. PerezHilton.com has just posted more of the now infamous Feb. 8 brawl. A warning–the content is explicit.
"Brown resumed punching Robyn F and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face. She then bent over at the waist placing her elbows and face near her lap and in attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied by Brown. Brown continued to punch Robyn F on her left arm and hands, causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps that was approx 2 inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand. Robyn F attempted to send another text message to other personal assistant Melissa Ford. Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window to an unknown street. Brown continued driving and Robyn F observed his cellular phone in his lap.
She picked up the cellular phone with her left hand, and before she could make a call, he placed her in a head lock with right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.
"Brown held Robyn F close to him and bit her on her left hear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle in front of [address] and Robyn F turned off the car removed the key from ingnition and sat on it. Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F left and right carotid arteries causing her to be unable to breathe. She began to lose consciousness. She reached up with her left hand and began to attempting to gouge his eyes in attempt to flee herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and released her. While Brown continued to punch her she turned around a place her back to against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest and placed her feet against Brown’s body and began pushing him away.
"Brown continued to punch her on legs and feet causing several contusions. Robyn F began screaming for help. And Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighbor heard Robyn F’s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F was issued a domestic violence protective order (EPO). Affiant conducted an interview with Melissa Ford who advised on Feb. 8 2009 at 2500 hours she received a phone call from Robin F from an unknown telephone number later identified as the telephone number of Officer Chavez.
Robin F had advised Ford that she had been assaulted by Brown. At approx at 1 am Brown called Ford as nothing happened. Ford advised Brown that she had already talked to Robin F and was aware of what happened. Ford had advised Brown that the neighbors had called police and that they were with Robyn F. Brown had asked Ford if Robin F had provided police with his name. And Ford advised him that she had. Brown hung up the telephone and did not call back.
It looks like the L.A. County District Attorney has finally received the Chris Brown case from the LAPD.
The D.A. received the case today but no decision has been made and that the case is currently under review.
OK! has confirmed from the D.A. that Chris will appear in court tomorrow, but he isn’t exactly losing sleep over it. An eyewitness tells OK! that on Wednesday — the day before his court appearance, Brown spent most of the day and evening laying down tracks for an upcoming album at a Burbank recording studio with some buddies. The night before, he had a midnight rendezvous to the Hollywood Hills home of his on-again girlfriend Rihanna.
A spokeswoman for the DA’s office, Sandi Gibbons, tells OK!, "Tomorrow is an ‘appearance.’ The suspect is required to appear with his attorney. Everything will become crystal clear tomorrow."
No word on whether Rihanna will show tomorrow, however OK! can also confirm that the singer’s security team and assistant pulled up to the Staples Center tonight where the L.A. Clippers are scheduled to play. No word on whether Rihanna was inside the car, but if she was, she’s obviously not sweating bullets about tomorrows court date either.
Brown was arrested for allegedly making criminal threats. Sources say the D.A. will review that allegation as well as felony domestic battery relating to the alleged Feb. 8 showdown.
Girls Gone Wild founder and former Paris Hilton b.f.f. Joe Francis is wanted for arrest after he failed to show up at a hearing for a tax evasion case.
An L.A. court issued a bench warrant for Francis on Monday. He was supposed to show up to the hearing, which was set to deal with a request from Bernhoft Law Firm to withdraw as Francis’ legal counsel.
U.S. District Judge S. James Otero issued the arrest warrant when Francis failed to show up for the hearing, said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Francis became a multimillionaire by selling videos of young women baring their breasts, usually at parties with free-flowing alcohol.
He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted in the tax evasion case, which was filed in 2007 by authorities in Nevada but transferred to L.A. because that is where he lives.
He is accused of claiming more than $20 million in bogus business expenses.
Hayden Panettiere’s dad, Alan, has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery.
TMZ is reporting that the Panettiere patriarch faced a judge in Beverly Hills on Tuesday stemming from an altercation he had with his wife back in August.
He received 24 months probation, $400 in fines and must attend 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling.
Twilight: In OK!’s official New Moon collector’s edition, check out everything from a timeline of Robert and Kristen’s romance – including photos of the two meeting each other’s parents and holding hands in Paris – to OK”s Ultimate Twi-hard Quiz.
Taylor Swift: Country’s new golden girl scoops up four CMA Awards and becomes the youngest artist ever to win Entertainer of the Year. Read Taylor’s response, and commentary from country icons.
Britney Spears: The singer takes a yacht trip with her two sons, Sean and Jayden, and her boyfriend/manager, Jason Trawick. See OK!’s photos of the developing happy family.
Lindsay Lohan: After her wild week of partying and disheveled appearance out shopping in L.A., friends say Lindsay may be in danger of self-destructing.
