American R&B star Chris Brown has entered a not guilty plea in a UK court over allegations that he attempted to inflict serious bodily harm during an incident at a London nightclub.
The 36-year-old singer is accused of trying to intentionally cause grievous bodily harm to a man named Abraham Diaw during an altercation at Tape nightclub on February 19, 2023.
Brown appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Friday alongside co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a fellow U.S. citizen, who also denied the same charge during a plea and trial preparation hearing.
In addition to the attempted GBH charge, both men face a count of assault causing actual bodily harm. Chris Brown is also accused of possessing an offensive weapon in a public space, though pleas were not taken on those charges at the Friday hearing. The court has scheduled another session for July 11 to address those matters.
Roughly 20 people, including several fans, filled the public gallery during the proceedings. The court has set October 26, 2026, as the start date for a trial expected to last between five and seven days.
Brown, best known for hits like Go Crazy, arrived at the court around 9:00 a.m. and made no comments as he entered the building amid a flurry of photographers.
Despite the legal proceedings, the singer has continued performing internationally after being granted conditional bail last month. He performed in Wales the night before the court hearing.
As part of his bail conditions, Brown paid a security bond of £5 million (approximately $6.7 million), intended as a financial assurance that he would comply with court requirements. The sum could be forfeited if any bail terms are breached.
Leave a Reply