There has been sudden movement on the Chris Brown/Rihanna assault case.
The Associated Press is reporting that Brown lost his bid to postpone the preliminary hearing, which his attorney argued should wait for a related California Supreme Court decision.
Also, Rihanna has been officially subpoenaed to testify. She was served in person Tuesday in Los Angeles to appear at the June 22 hearing in Superior Court, her lawyer Donald Etra confirms.
As previously reported, Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, filed an appeal earlier this month to try to delay the preliminary hearing. But two justices from California’s Second District Court of Appeal signed an order Wednesday rejecting the arguments. The order did not explain the reason why.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg last month rejected a bid by Geragos to get access to police records that the attorney argued were crucial to the hearing. Geragos’ appeal states that a state Supreme Court case currently under consideration could affect Brown’s access to the records and he was seeking a delay on those grounds.
Geragos argued that if the Supreme Court ruled defendants have access to certain police files before the preliminary hearing, as opposed to afterward — as is currently the case — then Brown could be subjected to “the expense and degradation of two preliminary hearings.”
Brown is accused of beating then-girlfriend Rihanna after a pre-Grammy party in February. Schnegg will decide at the preliminary hearing whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
Per the subpoena delivered Tuesday, Rihanna will be called to the stand at the June 22 hearing, whether she wants to or not.
“Rihanna was served at my office by L.A. DA investigators,” Etra said. “If the preliminary hearing indeed goes forward, she is now legally required to be there, she will be there, and will answer all questions truthfully.”
Brown, 20, has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts following the alleged Feb. 8 assault.
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