Judge allows Chris Brown to have contact with Rihanna prior to trial
I guess you could say that this judge just gave Brown his 'Get-out-of-Jail' pass, by allowing the prosecution's main witness (and plaintiff) to spend as much time as she wants with the accused until his trial begins. Doesn't make any sense. I wonder if he consulted any psychologists before rendering his decision?
(CNN) -- Singer Rihanna, through her lawyer, asked a judge Thursday not to prohibit her boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, from having contact with her while he faces felony charges of assaulting her.
The judge granted Rihanna's request.
Brown, 19, allegedly attacked Rihanna, 21, during an argument in February that began when she found a text message from another woman on his cell phone, according to a sworn police statement.
Brown appeared before a judge Thursday on the two felony counts, but his arraignment was delayed until next month at the request of his lawyer.
Authorities charged Brown on Thursday with felony counts of assault and making criminal threats, the Los Angeles County, California, District Attorney's Office said. If he is convicted, the sentence could range from probation to four years and eight months in prison, the office said.
While Los Angeles County Judge Kristi Lousteau warned Brown "not to annoy, harass, molest, threaten or use force or violence against anyone," Lousteau did not issue a "no contact" order that would have kept Brown away from the woman he is accused of beating.
Rihanna's lawyer, Donald Etra, stood near Brown and his lawyer, Mark Geragos, during the brief hearing. Rihanna was not in the courtroom.
Referring to the "no contact" order that could have been imposed, Etra told reporters after the hearing, "Rihanna requested that no such order be issued."
Etra said the less stringent protective order against harassment and threats signed by Lousteau was "more than sufficient in this case." Etra did not respond when reporters asked if the singer was cooperating with prosecutors in the case against Brown.
Brown, dressed in a suit and tie, said little during the hearing, except to answer "yes" when the judge asked him if he wished to waive his right to a speedy trial in exchange for a delay in arraignment. He then signed a waiver, which also allows Geragos to appear without him in court for hearings on routine issues.
Lousteau ordered Brown to return to court on April 6 for formal arraignment.
Brown is being represented by well-known Larry King Show guest Mark Geragos, who appears to be the new lawyer-to-the-stars-in-deep-shit-with-almost-no-chance-to-walk. Has this guy actually ever won a case? I honestly can't remember him ever winning anything, yet he keeps getting hired.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/05/chris.brown.charged/index.html
I guess you could say that this judge just gave Brown his 'Get-out-of-Jail' pass, by allowing the prosecution's main witness (and plaintiff) to spend as much time as she wants with the accused until his trial begins. Doesn't make any sense. I wonder if he consulted any psychologists before rendering his decision?
(CNN) -- Singer Rihanna, through her lawyer, asked a judge Thursday not to prohibit her boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, from having contact with her while he faces felony charges of assaulting her.
The judge granted Rihanna's request.
Brown, 19, allegedly attacked Rihanna, 21, during an argument in February that began when she found a text message from another woman on his cell phone, according to a sworn police statement.
Brown appeared before a judge Thursday on the two felony counts, but his arraignment was delayed until next month at the request of his lawyer.
Authorities charged Brown on Thursday with felony counts of assault and making criminal threats, the Los Angeles County, California, District Attorney's Office said. If he is convicted, the sentence could range from probation to four years and eight months in prison, the office said.
While Los Angeles County Judge Kristi Lousteau warned Brown "not to annoy, harass, molest, threaten or use force or violence against anyone," Lousteau did not issue a "no contact" order that would have kept Brown away from the woman he is accused of beating.
Rihanna's lawyer, Donald Etra, stood near Brown and his lawyer, Mark Geragos, during the brief hearing. Rihanna was not in the courtroom.
Referring to the "no contact" order that could have been imposed, Etra told reporters after the hearing, "Rihanna requested that no such order be issued."
Etra said the less stringent protective order against harassment and threats signed by Lousteau was "more than sufficient in this case." Etra did not respond when reporters asked if the singer was cooperating with prosecutors in the case against Brown.
Brown, dressed in a suit and tie, said little during the hearing, except to answer "yes" when the judge asked him if he wished to waive his right to a speedy trial in exchange for a delay in arraignment. He then signed a waiver, which also allows Geragos to appear without him in court for hearings on routine issues.
Lousteau ordered Brown to return to court on April 6 for formal arraignment.
Brown is being represented by well-known Larry King Show guest Mark Geragos, who appears to be the new lawyer-to-the-stars-in-deep-shit-with-almost-no-chance-to-walk. Has this guy actually ever won a case? I honestly can't remember him ever winning anything, yet he keeps getting hired.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/05/chris.brown.charged/index.html
