American singer Chris Brown has avoided a prison sentence after admitting a horrific assault at a luxury nightclub in London. The 37-year-old R&B singer arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Monday morning, accompanied by security guards, to receive his sentence over the bottle attack. He wore a cap, black leather jacket and face mask, and a few fans could be heard cheering as he exited his vehicle and walked into the building.
Court hears details of the attack
CCTV footage was played during the sentencing hearing for affray, showing Chris Brown striking a man with a bottle of tequila in a nightclub. Brown had been facing trial after he hit a former friend, Abraham Diaw, twice over the head on the dancefloor at the Tape private members' club in Mayfair in 2023. He, along with his vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, jointly admitted affray in July.
In front of an excited and packed public gallery, CCTV footage was shown where Brown swiped multiple times at Mr Diaw, connecting twice with his head, and then hitting his shoulder. In another clip, Brown could be seen being pulled away from his victim.
Prosecution describes the incident
Heidi Stonecliffe KC, prosecuting, described the weapon as a heavy square shaped tequila bottle and said Brown approached Mr Diaw at around 3am. She said: "We then see Mr Brown hit Mr Diaw twice over the left-hand side of his head." The prosecutor told the court that Omololu Akinlolu had grabbed Abraham Diaw in a bear hug, and said: "Mr Diaw falls to the ground and Mr Brown is also seen throwing punches." She said the incident lasted around 20 seconds.
Abraham Diaw was taken to St Mary's Hospital in London after he was hit over the head. Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC said he was discharged with pain relief and a diagnosis of head injury and superficial injury of the knee. An MRI scan taken in early March showed a high grade injury to a ligament on the inner side of the left knee, the court heard.
Defence and sentencing
Prosecutors alleged that Chris Brown played a leading role in the attack, which he disputes. Ms Stonecliffe said: "By any circumstances, when one watches that footage, it is Mr Brown that moves first." Chris Brown's lawyer, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, told the court the incident was something which "undoubtedly would have caused distress" to those at the nightclub. She said: "This is an ugly and unattractive incident. 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."
Chris Brown's vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, was described as being like a brother to Brown, and his lawyer, Laurie-Anne Power KC, told the court that Akinlolu "genuinely believed him to be under attack and became involved, and thereafter accepts his initial involvement very quickly evolved into the events he has pleaded guilty to."
Sentencing Brown, His Honour Judge Baumgartner said: "You, Brown, were holding a tequila bottle in your right hand, when you reached Diaw you struck him to the left side of his head whilst holding his hood. 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."
