Singer Chris Brown faces London court over alleged bottle attack in nightclub assault case
LONDON, June 20 — American R&B singer Chris Brown, the former boyfriend of superstar Rihanna, was due to appear in court today in London on assault charges.
Brown was freed from UK custody last month on £5 million ($6.7 million) bail after his arrest in the northwestern city of Manchester.
Under the terms of his bail, which would see him forfeit the £5 million guarantee if he failed to return for court proceedings, the Grammy-winning Brown, 36, was given the go-ahead to continue his scheduled international tour, which began on June 8 in Amsterdam.
The star, who had a troubled relationship with Barbadian singer Rihanna, is currently performing the UK leg of his tour, with his next date in London on Saturday.
Concerts are also scheduled in France, Portugal and the US later in the year, before the tour wraps up in Memphis in mid-October.
The star is charged with 'grievous bodily harm with intent' in relation to an assault in which the victim was allegedly struck several times with a bottle before being pursued, punched and kicked.
The alleged incident took place at a nightclub in Hanover Square in London on February 19, 2023 while Brown was touring in the UK.
Police detained him in the early hours of May 13 at a five-star hotel in Manchester after he reportedly flew in by private jet.
Judge Tony Baumgartner, at Southwark Crown Court in London, last month ordered that he could be freed on bail, and also stipulated that he should surrender his passport if he is not travelling.
He is required to live at a specific address known to the court and is not permitted to visit the nightclub were the alleged assault took place or contact the alleged victim, Abraham Diah.
Co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old US national, has also been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent.
Brown is known for mid-2000s hits such as 'Kiss, Kiss'.
He rose from a local church choir in Virginia to sudden fame with his rich R&B voice and later rap, but his reputation has been tarnished by the allegations of abuse. — AFP
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US singer Chris Brown pleads not guilty in UK nightclub assault case, trial set for 2026
LONDON, June 20 — American R&B singer Chris Brown today pleaded not guilty in a UK court to a charge stemming from an alleged London nightclub brawl in 2023. Brown, 36, wearing a dark suit and tie as well as glasses, stood in the dock in London as the charge was put to him, replying: 'Not guilty, ma'am.' The singer, who is on £5 million (RM28.4 million) bail, waved to people in the public gallery as he left, following his plea to allegedly attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. A five to seven-day long trial was scheduled to start on October 26, 2026. The singer was held in custody for a nearly a week in May after he was arrested in the northwestern city of Manchester. He was later released on bail. Under the terms of his bail, he will forfeit the £5 million guarantee if he fails to return for court proceedings. He was also given the go-ahead to continue his scheduled international tour which began on June 8 in Amsterdam. The star, who had a troubled relationship with Barbadian singer Rihanna, is on the UK leg of his tour, with his next date in London tomorrow. Brown is charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to an assault in which the victim was allegedly struck several times with a bottle before being pursued, punched and kicked. The alleged incident took place at a nightclub in Hanover Square in London on February 19, 2023 while Brown was touring in the UK. Grammy winner Police detained him in the early hours of May 13 at a five-star hotel in Manchester after he reportedly flew in by private jet. Other bail terms include that he should surrender his passport if he is not travelling. He is also required to live at a specific address known to the court and is not permitted to visit the nightclub were the alleged assault took place or contact the alleged victim, Abraham Diah. He appeared in the dock with co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a US national, with whom he is jointly charged. Akinlolu also entered a not guilty plea to the same charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Both men are also jointly charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. They will enter pleas to that charge on July 11, the court was told. Brown also faces a third charge of having an offensive weapon, a bottle, in public. The Grammy-winning singer is known for mid-2000s hits such as Kiss, Kiss. He rose from a local church choir in Virginia to sudden fame with his rich R&B voice and later rap, but his reputation has been tarnished by the allegations of abuse. He also are also scheduled to perform in France, Portugal and the US later in the year, before the tour wraps up in Memphis in mid-October. — AFP
Malay Mail
an hour ago
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US singer Chris Brown pleads not guilty in UK assault case
LONDON, June 20 — American R&B singer Chris Brown today pleaded not guilty in a UK court to a charge stemming from an alleged London nightclub brawl in 2023. Brown, 36, wearing a dark suit and tie as well as glasses, stood in the dock in London as the charge was put to him, replying: 'Not guilty, ma'am.' The singer, who is on £5 million (RM28.4 million) bail, waved to people in the public gallery as he left, following his plea to allegedly attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. A five to seven-day long trial was scheduled to start on October 26, 2026. The singer was held in custody for a nearly a week in May after he was arrested in the northwestern city of Manchester. He was later released on bail. Under the terms of his bail, he will forfeit the £5 million guarantee if he fails to return for court proceedings. He was also given the go-ahead to continue his scheduled international tour which began on June 8 in Amsterdam. The star, who had a troubled relationship with Barbadian singer Rihanna, is on the UK leg of his tour, with his next date in London on Saturday. Brown is charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to an assault in which the victim was allegedly struck several times with a bottle before being pursued, punched and kicked. The alleged incident took place at a nightclub in Hanover Square in London on February 19, 2023 while Brown was touring in the UK. Grammy winner Police detained him in the early hours of May 13 at a five-star hotel in Manchester after he reportedly flew in by private jet. Other bail terms include that he should surrender his passport if he is not travelling. He is also required to live at a specific address known to the court and is not permitted to visit the nightclub were the alleged assault took place or contact the alleged victim, Abraham Diah. He appeared in the dock with co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a US national, with whom he is jointly charged. Akinlolu also entered a not guilty plea to the same charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Both men are also jointly charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. They will enter pleas to that charge on July 11, the court was told. Brown also faces a third charge of having an offensive weapon, a bottle, in public. The Grammy-winning singer is known for mid-2000s hits such as Kiss, Kiss. He rose from a local church choir in Virginia to sudden fame with his rich R&B voice and later rap, but his reputation has been tarnished by the allegations of abuse. He also are also scheduled to perform in France, Portugal and the US later in the year, before the tour wraps up in Memphis in mid-October. — AFP
The Sun
an hour ago
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US singer Chris Brown pleads not guilty to assault charge in UK court
LONDON: U.S. singer Chris Brown pleaded not guilty on Friday to attacking a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub two years ago. Brown is charged with attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm in what prosecutors said was an 'unprovoked attack' with a tequila bottle on Abraham Diaw in a London nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court, where supporters filled the public gallery ahead of the hearing. Brown spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and to deny the charge of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm, telling the court clerk: 'Not guilty, ma'am.' His co-defendant Omolulu Akinlolu, 38, also pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm. The pair were granted bail until their next court appearance on July 11, when they may be asked to enter a plea to a less serious charge of assault causing actual bodily harm. Brown is also charged with having an offensive weapon, namely a bottle, but was not asked to enter a plea on Friday. Their trial is scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026. Supporters said 'We love you, Chris' as Brown left the dock after the brief hearing. Brown, a two-time Grammy Award winner known for hits such as 'Loyal', 'Run It' and 'Under the Influence', was granted bail in May after promising to pay a 5 million pound ($6.7 million) security fee in order to begin his 'Breezy Bowl XX' tour. The R&B star was arrested at a hotel in Manchester, northern England last month after returning to Britain for the first time since the incident two years ago.
