R&B superstar Chris Brown appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday as part of an ongoing legal case tied to an alleged bottle attack at a high-end nightclub in Mayfair. The brief hearing lasted just eight minutes and was limited to formal matters, with Brown speaking only once to confirm his name and date of birth. He arrived wearing a white jacket layered over a black shirt and gray trousers, flanked by security, and briefly acknowledged supporters seated in the gallery with a small wave before leaving the courtroom.
The 36-year-old singer has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm. Prosecutors claim the incident stemmed from what they describe as an unprovoked attack on former associate Abraham Diaw at Tape, an exclusive private members’ club, during a Dirty Martini club night in February 2023. Brown has also denied additional charges, including possessing an offensive weapon in public—allegedly a bottle—and attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm. His co-defendant, vocal coach Omololu Akinlolu, has likewise entered a not guilty plea in connection with the assault charge.
The case follows Brown’s arrest in Manchester last May at the Lowry Hotel, just hours after he landed in the UK ahead of his tour launch. He was later released on bail after posting a hefty £5 million security bond, allowing him to continue touring under strict legal conditions. Brown and Akinlolu are expected back in court for another pre-trial hearing in April, with the full trial currently scheduled to begin in October.
