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March 5, 2009
Singer Chris Brown needs to start studying Califonia sentencing law
As detailed in this AP article, a big celebrity love story has officially become a crime and punishment story:
Chris Brown has been charged with two felonies stemming from an argument with his girlfriend, Rihanna, court documents show.
Brown is expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon on charges of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and making criminal threats. The 19-year-old R&B singer remains free on $50,000 bail.
The felony complaint handed down in court Thursday morning identifies Brown's alleged victim only as "Robyn F." Rihanna's real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty. If convicted, the possible sentence ranges anywhere from probation to four years and eight months in state prison, said district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.
Of course, MTV.com and E! Online have in-depth additional coverage.
March 5, 2009 at 02:23 PM | Permalink
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Comments
The victim Rihanna states in the press that she will not testify. Under Crawford ( 6th Amend. cross)I belive the criminal threats and statements made to the police will not be addmisable. The pictures and medical reports CAN come in IF the doctor and photog take the stand.
Posted by: rc | Mar 5, 2009 8:11:53 PM
Rihanna states she will not testify, if she does not then per Crawford, nothing she says will be admitted. The doctors will have to come in and testify to the injurys but cant say who did it. The criminal threats will be tossed out. I bet on a plea becuse the government will not like a trial with no testomony from the victim.
Posted by: rc | Mar 5, 2009 8:17:11 PM
You are probably right about statements to the police, rc, but I wouldn't be so sure about statements to doctors. See People v. Cage, 40 Cal.4th 965 (2007), cert. den. 128 S.Ct. 612.
Posted by: Kent Scheidegger | Mar 6, 2009 11:07:00 AM
Good Cite Kent, it would be addmissable if it was spontanous statments made, but do you agree that per Crawford the criminal threats made by Brown are only supported by direct testomony from the victim? As to the police report, I wonder who much of the accusatory portions will come in. Wellwere just going to see, but I stand by the plea. However , she just was awarded a restraining order, Im very sure the police will arrest him for some violation of the protective order regardless In order to gain some additional leverage on this guy.
Posted by: rc | Mar 6, 2009 4:21:38 PM
cvmcbm
Posted by: cbnm | Mar 27, 2009 10:22:57 AM
