The lawyer for Chris Brown is arguing for the singer's case to be dismissed due to "leaks" to the media concerning the trial. Attorney Mark Geragos explained his plans in a Los Angeles court yesterday, requesting another hearing postponement.
"Leaks can form the basis for a motion to dismiss the case in regard to outrageous governmental misconduct," Geragos told reporters.
An intense media spotlight has been on Brown since 8 February, when the 19-year-old is alleged to have beaten his girlfriend, R&B star Rihanna. Though she declined to press charges, the district attorney's office is pursuing Brown for assault and making criminal threats.
Several details of the case made their way to the press, including a photograph of a badly injured Rihanna and information from the initial police report. Though Los Angeles police promised to investigate these leaks, no findings have been announced thus far.
Brown did not appear at yesterday's court hearing, where Geragos claimed that LAPD evidence still had not been released to him. He requested additional discovery time for the case, and a new hearing was scheduled for 28 May.
The judge also responded to Rihanna's request that some of her jewellery, currently held as evidence, be released. Items worth as much as $1.4m (£950,000) were taken from the singer on the night of the incident and held in police custody. The judge ruled that police should hand over the jewellery, leaving the court to make do with photographs of the items.
Brown's lawyers are understood to be pursuing a plea deal.
