R&B singer Chris Brown has denied further charges over an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub.
The American musician, 36, pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Abraham Diaw at the Tape venue, a private members’ club in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on February 19 2023.
He also denied having an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place during the short hearing at Southwark Crown Court this morning.
Brown denied the more serious charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm at a previous hearing.
The American star arrived at London’s Southwark Crown this morning for a plea hearing amid preparations for his trial which is set for October.
Dressed in a brown suit, and red and white tie, Brown strode past the scrum of media packed outside the law court.
Around 20 fans sat in the public gallery behind the dock for Friday’s hearing, with several gasping as the singer walked into the courtroom.
Brown’s co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, 39, has also pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
R&B singer Chris Brown has arrived at court over an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub (he is pictured on Friday outside Southwark Crown Court)
Brown is appearing ahead of his trial, which is scheduled to take place in October
Brown appeared to have his head down as he walked past a group of photographers
Omololu Omari Akinlolu, a co-defendant with U.S. singer Chris Brown (not pictured) arrives at court on Friday morning
Both men are further charged with assaulting Mr Diaw occasioning him actual bodily harm, with Brown also facing one count of having an offensive weapon, a bottle, in a public place.
The two-time Grammy award winner, which hits including Run It! and Go Crazy, has managed to press on with his scheduled international tour despite his legal battle.
He is on conditional bail and performed in Cardiff in June as part of a stadium tour which was billed as a celebration of the past 20 years of his career.
He had to pay a £5million security fee to the court as part of the bail agreement, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.
At his last court appearance, his defence counsel Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC told the hearing it had been difficult to discuss matters with her client while he is working.
Manchester Magistrates’ Court previously heard that Mr Diaw was standing at the bar of the Tape nightclub when he was struck several times with a bottle, and then pursued to a separate area of the nightclub where he was punched and kicked repeatedly.
Brown was arrested at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel at 2am on May 15 by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
He is said to have flown into Manchester Airport on a private jet in preparation for the UK tour dates.
Brown was released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, on May 21.
Shortly after being released from prison, Brown posted an Instagram story referencing his upcoming tour which said ‘FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!! BREEZYBOWL.’
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