Nearly two months after police found his girlfriend, the pop star Rihanna, bloodied and bruised on a Hancock Park street, Brown appeared in Los County Superior Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of felony assault and criminal threats. The 19-year-old spoke in a voice so low that many of the three dozen journalists who had waited an hour for the hearing to begin were unsure if he had even answered Judge Patricia Schnegg's inquiry.
The judge told lawyers to return to court April 29 to set a date for a preliminary hearing but said Brown does not have to attend. The entire proceeding took less than two minutes, surprising some members of Brown's entourage who filed into the courtroom as the arraignment was ending.
Outside the courtroom, a lawyer ! for Rihanna said there were ongoing plea negotiations between Brown and prosecutors.
"I believe there are efforts by all of the parties to resolve the case expeditiously and fairly," said the lawyer, Donald Etra.
He said the 21-year-old was willing to testify against Brown, but hoped that a deal would be reached before trial so "she can get back to her life and her career.
"She would be pleased if this is over quickly," he said.
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