Legal expert: Chris Brown, Rihanna assault case could take time

The decision by Los Angeles County district attorney’s office to have police do further investigating in the assault case involving R&B artist Chris Brown is not that unusual -- especially in a high-profile case, according to a legal expert.

“It is clear that they trying to have every 't' crossed and 'i' dotted,” said lawyer Michael Kraut, who prosecuted hundreds of domestic violence cases during 14 years as a deputy district attorney.

Kraut said that in an attempt to nail down every element of the alleged crime, prosecutors sometimes send police back to videotape witness accounts, secure hospital records or gather documentation of the couple’s relationship.

The district attorney’s office said LAPD investigators presented the case to prosecutors Tuesday morning and, after reviewing the material, directed detectives to do further investigation before returning to them. R&B star Rihanna is cooperating with investigators building a domestic violence case against her boyfriend, Brown, according to law enforcement sources.

"The higher the profile the case, the less likely they are to want to rush,” Kraut said

Prosecutors insisted that the delay in a decision on whether to charge Brown was not unusual, given that he is already out of custody after his arrest earlier this week.

“In cases where the suspect is free on bail, it is not uncommon to asked for additional investigation from the Police Department before making a filing decision,” said Sandi Gibbons, a department spokesman.

An alleged early morning altercation with Brown after a pre-Grammy Awards party left Robyn Rihanna Fenty with bruises and a scratch on her face, according to police sources. Her injuries were treated at a "major medical facility," a police source said.

-- Harriet Ryan and Richard Winton

Comments

[Marie]

With the horrific lyrics in rap, hip hop, whatever he tries to sing, does this surprise anyone? They talk of beating up and killing people and other horrible crimes. Anytime something like this happens, they find and excuse to get off the hook and blame something from the their childhood. Please, has anyone had a perfect childhood? This guy is a low-life loser!!

[bob]

I AM TEN YEARS OLD!!!!! HA HA I BEAT THE SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gay Givens]

Why are we so quick to judge Chris Brown. Until we actually hear from him, we onky know one side of the story, which of course is designed to show Rihanna in the best light. Her injuries are consistent with a car accident in which the rider's head hits the windshield or dash board. A sudden stop will also produce the same injuries to a rider who is not wearing a seat belt. We should give Chris Brown the same courtesy that we would wish for ourselves, i.e, don't rush to judgement. The bite marks marks on her fingers and arms could very well be the result of him trying to get her hands (fingers & arms) off of him while keeping both of his hands on the steering wheel of a moving car. Shame on those radio stations that canceled his music. I'm sure those same stations did not cancel R. Kelly and others from their play lists while the jury was still out.

[GLG]

Why are we so quick to judge Chris Brown. Until we actually hear from him, we onky know one side of the story, which of course is designed to show Rihanna in the best light. Her injuries are consistent with a car accident in which the rider's head hits the windshield or dash board. A sudden stop will also produce the same injuries to a rider who is not wearing a seat belt. We should give Chris Brown the same courtesy that we would wish for ourselves, i.e, don't rush to judgement. The bite marks marks on her fingers and arms could very well be the result of him trying to get her hands (fingers & arms) off of him while keeping both of his hands on the steering wheel of a moving car. Shame on those radio stations that canceled his music. I'm sure those same stations did not cancel R. Kelly and others from their play lists while the jury was still out.

[leadbone53]

Why do we want to convict in the court of public opinion? It appears to me that she attacked him while he was driving because my experiences with domestic violence has shown that the male is arrested on domestic violence charges RIGHT AWAY when the female has any visible marks or brusises. Chris is charged with making threats-NOT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!!!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE and smell the coffee. Sounds like a self-defense defense.
Please DO NOT CALL HER A R&B SINGER. AT BEST she is a pop artist because she CANT SING!!!!

[dee williams]

This is true Gay, I am going along with you . we don't know the hole story and should not rush to judge him (chris) I think is/ or was just a small thing the is being taken out of contence. so why don't we just wait for the facts on this before we rush to judge.

[dee]

Leadbone53,soooo right you are,she can't sing and the one record she had that sound ok is unbralla hey hey under my unbralla what a joke.

[Diane]

Re: Marie

You don't know what you're talking about. You people always assume that they're all the same. He's not a rapper first of all, he's R&B. And he's a kid who sings to young girls. Next time don't shoot off your mouth if you don't know what you're talking about.

My daughter used to love Chris Brown. This has changed a lot of peoples hearts, especially his fans. So we don't need a jerk spouting off the typical hatred for rappers.

[TLC]

I feel bad for him so many people want to see him convicted before a case is built. If you look back at other articals about these 2 young people you will clearly see she ran that relationship. she is not as helpless as she wants everyone to think. We were not there to judge this young man. just like she is somebodies daughter he is sombodies son. and if any of you have kids try to put yourself in the shoes of both sides parents not just one. I can only imagin how his mother feel to have to read all the bad things I have read people say about her son. I will not write off what he may or may not have done to her. But no one deserves to be hated like he is right now. They say this has happened before, then why did she stay with him. There is more to this story and I hope it will come out soon. so as a waiting for drama to happen world we can see the next headline to talk about and put this to rest.

[Wonder]

There is never any excuse for violence but like Carolyn Bessett, caught on camera kicking and punching JFK in Central Park, females often get physical too, something that many of them live to regret. Why the rush to lynch Chris Brown? It sounds as if both, Chris and Rihanna, need not simply support but professional help. One thing is clear, Rihanna's PR trumps Chris's. Look at the spin.

[Todd Williams]

maria,

Please at least Google before you speak ignorance. Chris Brown is a singer---he sings love songs--he's not, nor has he ever been, a rapper. Stop assuming that every young black person in entertainment is a rapper. Idiot.

[Todd Williams]

leadbone53,

When did being a pop singer mean that you can't sing--Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera are all pop singers with powerhouse voices. You kids need to learn about music and stop letting MTV/BET dictate to you what is what...Contemporary R&B is just pop music by (generally) African American artists anyway; i.e. Usher, Ciara, Rihanna, Chris Brown, NeYo and more. They aren't that different from JTimberlake, Britney, Shakira, Maroon 5, etc.

[Catalino Rodriguez]

i agree with gay givens,that person is right.we just know the female side of the story not the male.i find it wrong that a female can be able to tell police anything (lies) and she gets away with it,while the male would have to be mess up and look at as the bad guy.hey my heart goes to both of them.we all heard her side, now let just sit back and hear his,because we all really do not know what happen.beside the LA cops are trying to put another charge on him.that is really mess up.she could just be lying because he may had broke it off with her and she got piss.remember there are female and males out there that are very jealous and rihanna is one of them.

[perspective]

Everyone just needs to CALM DOWN. If this was anyone else, no one would give a crap. So just because he is an R&B singer and shes a pop singer, who knows how to sing or doesn't, depending on your taste of music, who cares. and if you do give a crap about either of them, then stop over reacting on the rumors and wait until the REAL facts come out.

[ANdrea]

I am so happy that people are looking at this story from both side. I beleive in my heart that their is a lot more to this story that the MEDIA has not aired. A relationship like this does not happen over night, this is an issue that has been going on for quite some time. I feel sorry for that young boy and girl however, it takes for issues like this to happend then the man is considered as the bad one. It sounds to me as if she was controling and he was FED-UP an snapped, if that's what really happened. Had he called the police and said that she lumped him up he would be considered as a CLOWN or a weak dude an that would be in the MEDIA, would she lose her endorsements. NO she wouldn't. Its sad to see a young kid work so hard towards a goal like that an succeed an then it's all taken away. CHRIS I HAVE U AN UR FAMILY IN MY PRAYERS.

[Kati]

AHHHH!! You people are insane! IT IS NEVER OKAY TO HIT A WOMAN! She called the police because she was obviously in trouble, not because she was jealous...pictures don't lie, she has a black eye, a bloody nose and bruises on ether side of her forehead, L.A. police called the pictures horrific. I know a little something about the legal system, he was charged with making criminal threats because that charge carries more time than a domestic violence charge...prosecutors often go with the grater charge first and will often reduce it to the lesser one if the investigation warrants that. According to E News, Rihanna told the police that she threw the keys out of the car after the argument escalated, Chris went out to look for it after he returned he put his hands around her neck, started choking her while saying "I am going to kill you" she eventually passed out, when she woke up he was gone. TERRIBLE!

[kygyrul]

i think that no one should judge him unless they no the whole story and then think about how would you feel if you were in his shoes....

[ME]

I believe no one should put there hands on another person especially in violence. But I also believe that there is always two sides of the story.

[LAnEy]

Re: Maria

Do you not realize how ignorant you appear by making a comment like that? I guess you're one of those people who thinks stereotypes are ok. I really hope not. I hope that your problem is simply that you have NEVER listened to Chris Brown's music a day in your life. Because if you had you would know that he's definitely NOT a rapper and he's NEVER sang anything about "beating up and killing people and other horrible crimes." He's also never sang anything that implied he approved of these behaviors.

DON"T SPEAK ABOUT THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT!

AND for everyone, else please just remember these four words:

INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY!

[ummmm]

if chris brown is not guilty of the accusations wouldn't he have said so already? why the hush hush? putting into account his personal family history of domestic violence, it's not too surprising if he is responsible for the assault. very unfortunate, but at the same time not too surprising.

[Tee]

Has anyone seen the pics of Rihanna with the bruises? Hum..., even the Media did not have a hold of any of these pics, that sounds strange...., something is not right here. Chris is just a little boy and should not be judge until find guilty. More so, why will the DA ask for more evidence if the police had a horrific pics, People think, something is not coming out yet. Please, let's all wait and see what happens......

[korka diouf]

love is so strong let them take theire own decision

[ChrisFan]

I love Chris Brown and i am a big fan of his, i was really sad to hear all the bullshit being written about him everywhere. I mean come on, there is something else to the story!! Everyone is talking about RIhanna bla bla bla like if she was an angel, what about Chris, no one heard HIS side of the story. People all think that rihanna is the innocent on only because she told her side of the story!! Wait for the truth to come up with both sides of the story. Chris Brown were all with you and no matter what, we will always be your fans...Youre The Best!!! We Love You!

[Fonnie]

Well, My whole Intake on this situation is that he couldnt have hurt that bad if they didnt even say that Rhianna was the one that told the police they said that "A Female said that Chris was the attacker", Who was the female? Now their saying that Paris Hilton has somthing to do with the altercation if Rhianna is lying she's going down Big Time and for all the Chris Brown supporters and Chris Brown and his Family Keep ya head up things will be better in due time, just trust in GOD. And for Rhianna supporters and Rhianna and her Family get well soon hope your not lying even though any type of voilence is unexceptable and I'm not condoning what happened but "WHY?" God Bless them all and best wishes to Whomever ( Chris) comes out of this on the Good side. I'm Praying for him in this situation and hoping that he's strong through this. Now it's up to the TRUTH to solve this mystery. Hey: Hope Everything goes well, Because I'm looking forward to hearing music from the both of them. Marie,(READ CAREFULLY) obviously you don't pay good enough attention CHRIS BROWN IS NOT A RAPPER, HE SINGS LOVE SONGS AND DANCE MUSIC FOR THE YOUNG AUDIENCE NEVER COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND OR KNOW!!!!!!!!!!! THX! GOD BLESS ALL!

[Shontrice]

Well im just gone say this they are a cute couple and what ever happened need to be just left in the past. What ever she did dont let her mess up yo career. But whatever happens im still gone be Chris Brown's #1 fan no matter what! I Love You Chris!

[Ann]

Marie evidently you do not know what you are talking about. Chris Brown is not a rapper. He is an R&B singer. By the way listen to his music. He sings about love not violence. Rihanna seemed to be a very controlled young lady, a bit too mature for Chris Brown. I am thinking perhaps there was a breakup which Rihanna or Chris was not having. I did not realize she is Barbadian. Not to stereotype, Bajan women can be very jealous, and vindictive with a mean streak. I should know, I am Bajan and ashamed to say very jealous and prone to jealous fits. I do hope these two work this out. Rihanna and Chris are beautiful people and look good together(cute&young) but they don't seem to be ready for truly serious relationship. Rihanna should have realized Chris Brown is still a teenager and may have been acting out or vice versa.

I just don't know and won't until the facts are released. People should wait and see how this all unfolds. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW, NOT PROVEN GUILTY IN THE EYES OF PUBLIC OPINION. I like them both and wish them well.

[Fanny]

Totally unacceptable what Chris Brown did to Rihanna. Earlier I just saw what assault did to Rihanna's face on http://www.starsjournal.com/3121/battered-picture-of-rihanna-causing-internet-buzz.html Can you imagine how can someone did this to his own girlfriend?