Chris Brown has avoided jail over a 2023 London nightclub attack. During an appearance at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Monday, the Run It singer was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for attacking music producer Abraham ‘Abe’ Diaw at Tape nightclub in February 2023.
His vocal coach, rapper Omololu Akinlolu, who was also involved in the brawl, was handed a four-month sentence, suspended for 12 months. This means neither man will be imprisoned unless they commit another offence during those 12 months. Brown and Akinlolu, who both pleaded guilty to affray in July, were ordered to pay $2,000 (£1,500) in costs.
The court heard that Brown hit Diaw with a glass tequila bottle four times, twice to the head. Handing down the sentence, Judge Tony Baumgartner said, “The repeated use of a glass bottle in that way, especially aimed at the head, was plainly dangerous, it carried the risk of delivering a more serious injury than was ultimately sustained.”
According to BBC News, he told the R&B star, “Violence of this kind in a crowded nightclub is serious, it creates an obvious risk, not only to the person against whom it is directed, but also to others nearby.” He added that Brown’s fame does not “entitle you to special treatment” but noted his guilty plea, his compliance with bail conditions and that his “risk of further offending is low”.
The 37-year-old’s defence lawyer Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC offered an apology to Tape nightclub patrons on Brown’s behalf. “This is an ugly and unattractive incident,” she told the court. “It is, however, an incident which was very short-lived, lasting something more than 17 seconds but no more than 20. “It is something which undoubtedly would have caused distress to those who are present and for which Mr Brown… offers a profound apology to all those present.”
The Forever hitmaker received cheers from fans as he left the courthouse and even signed some autographs. Taking to his Instagram Stories after the hearing, Brown posted a video in which he gave a thumbs-up while seated in the back of a car.
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