Singer Chris Brown appears in court regarding an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub
American R&B star Chris Brown, 36, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London for a plea hearing, where he reaffirmed his not guilty plea to charges related to a nightclub assault in February 2023.
Brown is accused of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Abraham Diaw at Tape, an exclusive members-only venue in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on the night of February 19, 2023. Dressed in a brown suit with a red and white tie, the two-time Grammy Award winner arrived at court amid a heavy media presence.
His co-defendant, 39-year-old U.S. citizen Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded not guilty to the same charge.
Both men face additional charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, while Brown is further charged with possession of an offensive weapon — a bottle — in a public place.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Brown has continued with his international tour, performing in Cardiff in June as part of a 20th anniversary celebration of his music career. He remains on conditional bail and reportedly posted a £5 million security bond, a financial guarantee required to ensure compliance with court conditions.
At a previous hearing, Brown's attorney, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, noted the difficulty in consulting with her client due to his ongoing professional commitments.
Earlier testimony at Manchester Magistrates' Court alleged that Mr. Diaw was standing at the bar when he was struck multiple times with a bottle. He was then allegedly pursued to another area of the club, where he was punched and kicked repeatedly.
Brown was arrested by Metropolitan Police detectives at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel at 2 a.m. on May 15, having flown into the city via private jet for his UK tour. He was later released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford on May 21.
His trial is scheduled to begin in October.
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