Chris Brown arrives in court to enter a plea on alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub two years ago
Chris Brown has arrived at court to enter a plea on an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub two years ago.
The American rapper, 36, arrived at Southwark Crown Court this morning, accused of causing grievous bodily harm to music producer Abraham Diaw in February 2023.
He will also be appearing alongside his co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, 38, for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
Just hours after flying into the UK on a private jet, the popular R&B singer was arrested at Manchester's Lowry Hotel on May 15 by Metropolitan Police detectives.
Brown was then charged over an alleged assault at the Tape nightclub in Hanover Square in Mayfair on February 19, 2023.
On May 21, he was released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, on a £5million bail agreement.
Manchester Magistrates' Court heard last month that Mr Diaw was standing at the bar of the popular London venue when he was struck several times with a bottle.
He was then allegedly pursued to a separate area of the nightclub before being punched and kicked repeatedly while he lay on the floor.
Prosecutor Hannah Nicholls previously described the incident as an 'extremely serious' attack that was caught on CCTV.
She said Mr Diaw was 'struck with a bottle several times' and 'punched and kicked repeatedly'.
As part of Brown's bail conditions, he must reside at a UK address and can also only access his passport when he needs to travel for a tour date.
Other bail conditions include not to attend the Tape nightclub or contact his co-accused, Dallas rapper Omolulu Akinlolu, 38, the complainant or any witnesses.
If found to be in breach of such conditions, Brown could be asked to forfeit the £5million.
Shortly after the singer was released on remand from prison, he posted a story to Instagram to his 144million followers that read: 'From the cage to the stage!!!', adding the word Breezbowl - the name of his tour.
The Go Crazy singer kicked off his Breezy Bowl XX tour on June 8, 2025 in Amsterdam before arriving in the UK to perform in Manchester on Sunday.
Speaking to a sold-out crowd at the Co-Op Live Arena, Brown thanked his fans for ' coming and supporting me ', adding jokingly: 'And thank you to the jail. It was really nice'.
Brown, who was released on £5M bail, was shielded by staff behind a large white board while leaving the five star Lowry Hotel where he was detained in the early hours of May 15
He is set to perform in London later this week, before returning to perform in Manchester on June 24 and July 3, followed by shows in Birmingham, Rathfarnham and Glasgow.
Previously, Adele Kelly, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: 'We have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Chris Brown with one count of grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
'The alleged incident occurred in London on February 19, 2023. He will have his first court appearance on Friday, May 16 at Manchester Magistrates' Court.
'The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'
Before the charge was made, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 2am on Thursday, May 15 on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
'He has been taken into custody where he remains. The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on February 19, 2023.
'The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.'
It was initially understood that the arrest had been made by the Metropolitan Police.
But a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson clarified: 'This morning (Thursday May 15) we arrested a 36-year-old man at a hotel in Manchester on suspicion of grievous bodily harm on behalf of the Metropolitan Police.'
Brown rose to fame at a young age with his rich R&B voice and later rap, and was also known for having a relationship with fellow music star Rihanna.
He released his debut album Chris Brown in 2005 and has since released a further ten studio albums and 64 singles.
Some of his biggest hits have included Run It!, Yo (Excuse Me Miss) and No Air, a collaboration with Jordin Sparks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Banana-toting robber jailed over Bradford post office heist
A masked robber who held up a post office with a banana wrapped in a plastic bag has been jailed for three years and four Asquith, 42, brandished the bendy fruit and shouted at staff to empty the till during the raid in Allerton Road, Bradford, on 6 Crown Court heard Asquith, of Chelwood Drive, Bradford, left with more than £6,000, which is yet to be sentence Judge Jonathan Gibson KC said he had concealed the banana in such a way "to make it look realistic". The court heard the member of staff on duty at the time had been left "too scared to return to the shop" after the incident. The judge said: "They at the time thought they were the victims of an armed robbery and indeed could have been shot."CCTV footage played in court showed Asquith walk into the post office before shouting at the victim "empty the till".Prosecutors had initially suggested Asquith had been carrying an imitation firearm or something designed to resemble after Asquith told the court it was a banana the prosecution said if CCTV footage of the incident did not rule out the possibility, they would accept the defendant's Arshad, mitigating, said Asquith's behaviour could be explained by his diagnosis of emphysema, a lung condition, which he said had prevented him working as a painter and added that Asquith had been abusing alcohol and Class A drugs before the robbery. Asquith pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an imitation firearm at a previous hearing. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Sky News
15 minutes ago
- Sky News
Alana Armstrong: Driver cleared of murdering woman who was knocked off electric motorbike
A driver has been acquitted of murdering a 25-year-old mother who was knocked off the back of an electric motorbike. Alana Armstrong, who had a six-year-old son, died at the scene on a country lane in Pleasley, Derbyshire. Her boyfriend Jordan Newton-Kay, who was riding the electric motorbike, had his right leg amputated 15cm above the knee after the crash. Prosecutors alleged that Keaton Muldoon had "pursued" the couple on 26 November 2024 but he was found not guilty of murder following a trial at Derby Crown Court. The 23-year-old told the jury he "did not know" he had hit anyone while driving his Land Rover Discovery and thought he had overtaken the pair. Muldoon said he feared he was going to be robbed but did not "chase" the Sur-Ron off-road bike after it had stopped by his 4x4 at a lay-by. He had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving before the trial began in May. The jury also cleared Muldoon of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Newton-Kay. Muldoon - who the court heard was a drug dealer - was the father to a newborn baby at the time of the collision. He said he lied to police that his uncle had possession of the Land Rover when the crash happened because he was "scared" about the murder investigation. Earlier this week, he told the jury: "My head was all over I didn't know what to think. "I knew I wasn't going to see my children for a bit. I just had a newborn baby. I promised I would always be there."
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
This divisive 90s shoe trend is back for summer – and this is the pair to wear
Flip flops have officially been given the fashion seal of approval. From smooth leather iterations to jelly styles and classic Havaianas', the sandal style is just as likely to be seen in the city as they are at the beach this season. Minimalist luxury fashion label The Row led the charge last year with its 'beach flip flop' style, plumped for by the likes of Kylie and Kendall Jenner and Zoe Kravitz. Don't be fooled by the name, as these flip flops aren't seen anywhere near the sea. In fact, The Row's newest take for this season is aptly named the 'city flip flop' (£860, But you don't need to spend that eye-watering amount on the style; Ancient Greek Sandals were next with the Saionara jelly sandal (£125, worn by influencers including Lucy Williams and Lizzy Hadfield. The jelly material and pop of colour playfully nod to the Nineties. A more budget way to embrace the trend, the classic flip flop brand Havaianas is officially cool again, thanks to recent collaborations with Zara, Dolce & Gabbana and Gigi Hadid. Of course, the trend isn't for everyone. Some might look on with horror at exposed feet on the commute, while getting your toes out in the office is a divisive topic among colleagues. I cast my own reservations aside to road test the best flip flops to invest in this season – and one pair has shaped up to be my sandal of the season. Perfectly minimalist but sufficiently stylish thanks to the sleek red finish, Russell & Bromley's radford style is a hero investment. At £125, the flats are a more premium choice on the high street, but feel far less flimsy than many leather or faux leather takes. Here's my case for why you should invest too. How we tested I tested these Russell & Bromley flip flops alongside dozens of other pairs from the high street. Considering comfort, styling versatility, value-for-money and aesthetic, here's why I keep returning to the radford style. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Daisy Lester is a senior shopping writer at The Independent. She specialises in reviewing fashion, so she knows what makes a well-crafted, comfortable and on-trend shoe. Where flip flops are concerned, she turns to the best brands that combine affordability and quality, looking for trend-led styles that are still a timeless investment.
