R&B singer Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to attacking attacking a music producer with a bottle at a Mayfair nightclub.
The American musician, 36, is accused of attacking Abraham Diaw at the Tape nightclub in Hanover Square on February 19, 2023.
It is said Mr Diaw was struck several times with a bottle before being kicked and punched several times, after encountering Brown and his entourage at the venue’s Dirty Martini club night.
At Southwark crown court on Friday, Brown pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
Last month, he appeared in court to plead not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Diaw, a charge arising from the same incident.
Brown and his vocal coach Omolulu Akinlolu, 38, are due to stand trial on October 26 next year.
Akinlolu has also denied attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Brown listened intently throughout the 30-minute court hearing, speaking only to confirm his identity and enter the pleas. The court was packed with journalists, around two dozen supporters, and members of the singer’s entourage and security detail.
Brown was arrested at the five-star Lowry Hotel in Manchester in May after he flew into the UK ahead of the start of the British leg of his Breezy Bowl XX world tour.
He was charged and spent time in prison on remand before being granted bail by Judge Tony Baumgartner.
The conditions of his bail include the provision of a £5 million security and surrendering his passport at times.
The Go Crazy singer has been allowed to leave the UK as long as he hands over his passport on arrival in the US, Europe, and Canada.
The court has heard Mr Diaw was standing at the bar of the Tape nightclub when it is alleged he was struck several times with a bottle, and was then allegedly pursued to a separate area of the nightclub where he was punched and kicked repeatedly.
Shortly after being released from prison, Brown posted an Instagram story referencing his upcoming tour.
It said: “FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!! BREEZYBOWL.” He also thanked the prison and its staff during one of his tour appearances.
Brown, wearing a brown checked suit and designer glasses, and Akinlolu, a fellow US national, stood together in the dock, flanked by security guards.
The singer spoke to confirm his name, replied “yes ma’am”, and then to repeated “not guilty” twice when charges were put to him.
Akinlolu was initially banned under the terms of his bail from contacting Brown. But that order was varied by the court to allow for voice coaching on Brown’s world tour.
