American RnB singer Chris Brown has been remanded in custody after appearing in an English court charged over an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub two years ago.
The 36-year-old rapper, a former partner of the singer Rihanna, was arrested on Thursday at the five-star Lowry hotel in Greater Manchester, after flying into the UK for an upcoming tour. He is due to play Dublin’s Marlay Park on June 28th.
Brown appeared in the dock at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Abraham Diaw in February 2023.
District Judge Joanne Hirst told Brown the alleged offence was a matter “too serious” to be dealt with at her court as she sent the case to London’s Southwark Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on June 13th.
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Mr Brown was flanked by two security guards in the dock. He confirmed his name was Christopher Maurice Brown, provided his date of birth and gave the Lowry Hotel as his address.
The singer watched on intently as details of the case against him were outlined by prosecutor Hannah Nicholls.
Ms Nicholls said the alleged victim was stood at the bar of the Tape nightclub on February 19th, 2023, when the defendant launched an “unprovoked attack” in which the complainant was struck several times with a bottle.
“The defendant then pursued him to a separate area of the nightclub where the victim was punched and kicked repeatedly by him and another.”
A bail application followed from Mr Brown’s barrister Grace Forbes, which was denied.Mr Brown confirmed to Judge Hirst that he understood he had further been remanded in custody until next month.
Members of the public joined members of press to watch proceedings in Court 17, along with others following on video-link in an overspill court.
Mr Brown is said to have flown into Manchester Airport on a private jet on Wednesday afternoon in preparation for tour dates in June and July.
Along with the Dublin date, he is due to play 10 dates in the UK as part of his Breezy Bowl XX tour, beginning at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester on June 15th. – PA
