Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Singer Chris Brown 'choked Rihanna as he threatened to kill her' during alleged assault

Rihanna’s boyfriend Chris Brown threatened to kill her, it was claimed today.

Police sources said the Umbrella singer, 20, lost consciousness during the alleged attack in the early hours of Sunday morning, as Brown choked her and screamed: “I’m going to kill you!”

A source close to the investigation said Rihanna came round to find that her 19-year-old boyfriend had fled.
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Rihanna and Chris Brown having words at an after party following Rihanna's performance in Sydney, Australia last year

Brown later turned himself in to police, was charged with making criminal threats and released on $50,000 (£34,000) bail, although more charges may follow.

A source told U.S. TV network E! that the couple were arguing in Brown's rented Lambourghini after attending a pre-Grammys party in Beverly Hills when Rihanna took the car keys and threw them out of the window.

After failing to find the keys outside the car, Brown stormed back to the car and allegedly put his hands around Rihanna's neck.

Since the alleged attack, Rihanna has been hiding and today cancelled a second concert date planned for Thursday in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

Yesterday, concert organisers in Malaysia announced the singer had postponed her gig in Kuala Lumpuer on Friday and her record label pulled the plug on her lavish 21st birthday party, which was set to take place in New York next week.

Police confirmed on Tuesday that the victim of the assault - who they have not officially named - was heard screaming on the emergency call made to the police.

LAPD chief investigator Detective Deshon Andrews has confirmed: 'It mostly recorded the sound of a screaming woman.'
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Rihanna and Chris Brown, pictured at a pre-Grammy party just hours before the alleged assault, cancelled their performances at the awards on Sunday

Despite confirming the screaming, Detective Andrews said he is adamant about keeping the details of the case - photos, documents, the 911 call - from the public eye and is refusing to release the 911 audio tape to the media.

Police are still investigating claims that the singer suffered bite marks and injuries to her face in a domestic assault.

The Barbadian star received medical treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for swelling and bruises after the argument with Brown in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to TMZ.com.

The website reported Rihanna suffered swelling and bruising to her face and had bite marks on her arms and fingers.

Police confirmed the victim had suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker.
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Shamed: Brown hides his face as he is driven from the Los Angeles County jailhouse on Sunday night after being released on bail

Brown has hired celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos, who defended Winona Ryder during her shoplifting trial and Michael Jackson during his child molestation trial.

Brown is scheduled to appear in court on March 5th.

LAPD Sergeant Bridget Pickett said: 'The exact charge was criminal threats and it is going to be investigated as a criminal threats investigation.

'There may be domestic violence charges added later, but that will be up to the district attorney's office.'

The singer's record label has also cancelled a lavish party planned for her 21st birthday for about 200 guests and which was set to have had a carnival theme with various 'sideshow' attractions.

An eyewitness at the Cedars-Sinai hospital told Radar magazine's website that Rihanna, real name Robyn Fenty, was clearly distressed when she arrived.

The onlooker said: 'Rihanna was clearly very upset by what happened and I could hear her screaming. Rihanna was trying to get her point across about something. She sounded like she was crying.'
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Performing partners: Rihanna and Brown regularly perform together, seen here at Madison Square Garden in New York in December

Hours before the Grammy Awards were due to start, both Rihanna and Brown seperately pulled out of their planned performances at the star-studded ceremony.

The Umbrella singer's publicist declined to comment on the alleged assault, but said: 'Rihanna is well. Thank you for concern and support.'

Her grandmother Clara Braithwaite attempted to reassure fans yesterday, telling Barbados's New Nation newspaper: 'I don't want people to worry. Rihanna is fine and she is doing well.'

Braithwaite also denied rumours Rihanna had suffered a broken nose following the incident.

Since Brown's arrest, chewing gum firm Wrigley's announced they are suspending their ad campaign starring the 'Run It' singer.

In a statement, Wrigley's said: 'We have made the decision to suspend the current advertising featuring Brown and any related marketing communications until the matter is resolved.

'Wrigley is concerned by the serious allegations made against Chris Brown. We believe Mr. Brown should be afforded the same due process as any citizen.'

Brown has also pulled out of a charity basketball event in Phoenix on Sunday.

In the meanwhile, Brown is clocking up a huge rental bill after the silver Lambourghini he rented for the weekend has been impounded in a LA police lot as potential evidence.

The luxury car, rented from Platinum Motorsport, costs $2,000 a day to hire.

In 2007, Brown admitted in an interview with American magazine Giant, he his family had suffered domestic abuse at the hands of his stepfather.

He said: 'He made me terrified all the time, terrified like I had to pee on myself. I remember one night he made her nose bleed.

'I was crying and thinking, "I'm just gonna go crazy on him one day…" I hate him to this day.'

On the Tyra Banks chat show, he said his childhood experience had make him respectful of women: 'It affected me…especially toward women, I treat them differently. Because I don't want to go through the same thing or put a woman through the same thing that that person put my mom through.'

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