Because Rihanna has chosen to reconcile with alleged abuser Chris Brown, Los Angeles County prosecutors are looking at the evidence they gathered following the attack last month to determine if they can continue the case without the singer’s cooperation. If TMZ is to be believed, it looks as though prosecutors do have enough to build a case against Brown, based on police interviews with Rihanna after the attack, and of course the infamous photos of Rihanna’s bruised face. TMZ reveals that Rihanna told police who arrived on the scene that the violence from Brown had been escalating – meaning that this wasn’t the first time he had put his hands on her.
TMZ has learned the L.A. County District Attorney has received the Chris Brown case from the LAPD.
No decision will be made today. It is under review.
Brown was arrested for allegedly making criminal threats. Sources say the D.A. will review that allegation as well as felony domestic battery.
Brown is scheduled to make an appearance in court tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if the D.A. files charges tomorrow and if Brown is arraigned. If that happens, it will be especially interesting if Rihanna shows up with him.
Even if Rihanna refuses to cooperate with prosecutors, the L.A. County District Attorney may have evidence even more powerful than the gruesome photos. Multiple law enforcement sources tell TMZ, the night of the attack Rihanna told cops she was the victim of escalating violence — and the perp was Brown.
LAPD cops interviewed Rihanna after the attack and she told them Brown had been violent toward her in the past and that the attacks were getting “more violent” as time went on. The interview is potent evidence if the L.A. County D.A. charges Brown with felony domestic battery, and that could happen as early as today.
And there’s something else. The photo that TMZ obtained showing Rihanna battered, bloody and bruised is mild compared to other photos. We’ve learned additional pics were taken on February 9, the day after the attack, and they are far more gruesome — the bruises and swelling far more pronounced. We’re told these photos show injuries that could be devastating in a case against Brown.
This just made my stomach lurch when I read it. Criminal proceedings aside, if this information is true, it means that Rihanna knowingly reunited with a man who has abused her multiple times and will likely do it again. Statistics are not on her side here. If the violence was escalating before he got caught, chances are, he will behave for a while, and then pick right up where he left off. I’ve seen it a hundred times. The only way for Rihanna to ensure that he doesn’t hurt her again is to get out, period. It would be great if Chris ended up being separated from Rihanna thanks to the court system – but I’m sure Brown is assembling a team of high-priced lawyers as we speak, so the chances of him serving any jail time over this are very slim. That means he’ll be free to put his hands on Rihanna yet again. I don’t see this situation ending well.
Here’s a great description of the cycle of violence most battered women go through. I’d say Rihanna is in the “honeymoon” phase right now. It doesn’t last.
Photo credits: Fame.
i didn’t think it was the first time either, i believe it starts of with “little” slaps and pushes and than escalates to the beat down she got in the car. i can’t help but to think that this young woman just does not think anything of herself to go back to a man who beat her and the WHOLE world knows about it…it coiuld all be speculation and gossip but photo leaked for god sakes
star is reporting they got married
Oh Dear Lord! Let’s all pray they do NOT have any children.
here’s my 2 cents.
I had a DV case a million years ago. I tried to press charges. I tried to get a restraining order. I showed up for court. He didn’t. Judge said unless he showed up for court, there wasn’t much they could do. Nice huh. The DA drove me home from a hearing one day to find HE had broken into my new apartment and was waiting for me on the couch. He continued to come after me for months. Mace didn’t stop him. Cops didn’t stop him. Locksmiths didn’t stop him. You get the idea.
I thankfully was not looking like Ri or choked unconscious and left for dead. My point is I was fully in 100% and there was nothing the system could do to protect me. If she’s not willing to help I can’t help but think nothing will come of it. I was hoping since it had national attention something might happen but I really doubt it now.
I literally left with the towel on my back (I was in the shower when he decided to…) I never went back except once when he was at work to get my cat. Nothing else. I am so thoroughly disgusted by anyone who justifies putting themselves back in that situation. It is hard enough to get free when you do leave. Cycle schmycle. Hit me once shame on you. Stick around? Shame on me.
Wicked left hook and a roundhouse you don’t see coming. Good on me!
Well, gag. Just, gag. I hope both their careers go to hell.
It´s so sad. My mum was with an abusive guy and I saw how he made up to her after a terrible quarrel, being sweet and caring, and she couldn´t resist it – she even thought that all this passion and intensity must count for something, which is probably what Rihanna feels now, too. I hope to God she sees through it soon.
Msat, I really like your take on all this. You seem very respectful and knowledgeable and that’s the best way to get people to understand about such a sensitive and frustrating issue.
Oh and Lem- *hugs* I’m so sorry you went through that! I’m glad you’re safe now.
Lem, I, too, am sorry you experienced that crap. It truly is horrible. I’ve found myself running barefoot, in a nightie, through the darkened streets, desperately looking for someone, ANYONE, who might let me sleep on their sofa without asking too many questions or passing judgment. I’ve been choked to near unconsciousness, beaten black and blue, knife to the throat, gun to the head, etc. It’s crazy to live like that, and I know damn well Miss Rihanna has a lot more help available than the average person does. I’m fed up and angry on behalf of abused women everywhere who have no one to help them.
Have you read FF’s comment on the Rihanna story of 03/03 ? It’s one of the last ones. Very incisive.
I hope this thug is tried and convicted. And I hope Rihanna comes back to her senses someday.
wow.. what a horrible example to set for her fans.. well, forget that — what a horrible example to set for anyone. This is such a high profile ordeal. I just lost all my sympathy for Rihanna and my digust for that creep who did this to her only grows the more i read about this..
My heart goes out to you women who have felt this treatment, I truly apologize and hope you are now in a better place in your life. It brakes my heart when I hear women express their experiance on this subject. I am proud of those who got out somehow, I have seen women (exampple: my mother) be with a man that physically and mentally abused them and that is all they will know for the rest of their life. cases like this kill me, a person diserves so much better, but they feel they dont. …Hugs to you all who have gotten out
Being a mom gave me the resolve to get the hell out. While he never witnessed any of it, I knew it was just a matter of time. No way did my son deserve to have that kind of trauma inflicted on him. I don’t care what you have to do, get food stamps, welfare, whatever is necessary to survive, it’s better than living in fear and with the indignities that come with being beaten.
damn boom. that’s awful. I’m glad you’re safe now!
Holy shit Boom, a gun?? Up until then, I’m reading what you wrote, thinking ‘yep,’ ‘check,’ ‘I hear that,’ and then WTF?! That is beyond terrifying.
Thank-you for your kind sentiments Wonder Woman.
boomchakaboo: you did the right thing, and your love for your son was bigger than your fear. Bravo !
I may add that women who are physically abused have it worst, but at least they have a proof somewhere hidden in their mind that they are being abused and nobody (except scumbags and Chris Brown) will deny it. So some of them are able to leave to protect their children from witnessing it.
Women who are abused, but not physically, often even ignore they are being abused.
Exemples of this abuse : having to comply with everything the abuser orders to set an example of good behavior for the children, having to report wherever she is and when she will be home, having to ask the abuser for money even if she earns her living, having to make lengthy excuses for whatever slights she has caused the abuser – like leaving for the next room while picking clothes all around the house, before the abuser was done with talking to her).
And their children witness it all right. And they think it’s a normal relationship. I don’t know how to unravel the evil done to my children’s mind, but I hope I’ll be able to make decent human beings out of them, not abusers. Like you’re doing, boomchakaboo.
Ri is setting a really bad example to other battered women, she needs to be the rock for other women and show them how to get out of this. When everyone know what happened to her, if she takes this and turns it into a big denial case she’s not helping anyone, especially herself. What does it take for naive young women to realize they need to get the heck away from these type of guys? I don’t think it could be much worse than what he did to her unless he killed her, and hopefully that’s not what its going to take for her to get out of this crazy relationship.
Baho, sissou, and others; yeah, a gun, more than once. I’m driving home cause jackass is too drunk and passed out, when he suddenly came to, whipped out a gun, stuck it to my temple and slurred at me that if I didn’t slow down (I’m going 45mph) he’s going to blow my brains out. Gun cocked, barrel pressed hard, and a moron with his finger on the trigger. Talk about fear. For some reason, I took the indignant stance: Is that a GUN you have stuck to my head? Would you kindly remove it so I can drive and get us home? I figured his concern over his own well being would trump any concern for mine, and it did. He lost his car keys one night and beat me as though he was fighting a man. Punching, choking, kicking, you name it. Just plain out of nowhere, since I had nothing to do with his damn keys. And this was a guy who couldn’t do enough for me when we first got together. I’ve got little scars on my forehead and temple from knives, my left thumb is totally effed up from fighting, and my molars are now starting to break from punches to the jaws back then. The body can only take so much. I did, however, start fighting back. I figured out that if I could withstand the initial onslaught he would be tired from expending so much energy at one time, and that was my chance. If I would be killed by a sonuvabitch, I’ll be damned if I would go down easy. God, I’m glad those days are long gone. You want to know what happened to him? He remarried and abused the hell out of his school teacher wife to the point that when she finally left him, he showed up at her school with a gun. Rather than face the charges, he killed himself with a shotgun blast in the mouth. I guess he was hell bent on killing somebody. Sad, but there you have it.
The sweetest lady I know, who is in her 70’s, makes the trek to California ever few years to attend the parole hearing of the man who beat her daughter to death. She goes to make sure he never gets out and harms another woman, if she can help it. It’s been several years since her daughter’s death, and she has to go re-live the entire ordeal every so often. She will do it until the day she dies. California is a looong way from here, and it’s a very traumatic experience for her. But, she wouldn’t dream of not being there. Her daughter was beat to death in the back yard, after calling 911. She didn’t get away soon enough.
boomchakaboo: Oh.My.God. I’m speechless.
Very glad you are still with us Boom.
You have to wonder what the hell they are thinking. I can’t find my keys so I’ll kill her and then she’ll tell me.?
If I shoot her while she’s driving she’ll slow the hell down?
I guess it’s too much to ask for rational thought from a man who would think to go there.
I’m glad you pointed out fighting back is always an option. Do what you can, learn what you can and don’t ever let up. He won’t
Lem, and others, thank you for your sentiment. It does feel good to still be here. Fighting back is, to me, the only way to preserve a semblance of self respect. Women have a hard time inflicting injury on another even if that other is having no problem hurting her. She has to get out of victim mode and into survival mode, you know, ‘I may not win, and probably won’t, but I am going to fight for my life come hell or high water.’ If she waits it out, he will wear himself out and be easier to take on. Women tend to get all drawn up and cry, huddle in a corner, and wait for the guy to apologize and make her feel better. Then she has a form of power, which she desperately needs at the moment.Ir takes nerves and planning, but she can definitely make him think twice. That’s been my experience and I think it probably saved my life on more than one occasion. Think back to Willie Nelson being wrapped in a sheet and having the hell beat out of him with a baseball bat, and that was over his partying at all hours, not even physical violence. Women need to know they have power and not be afraid to use it.
Damn Boom… You are a very strong woman – it’s evident in your posts, but as I read of your experiences, it’s evident all around. I admire you. I know it sort of sounds hateful, but I can’t say I’m sorry your abuser shot himself – sure seemed to serve him right.
Lem, you too… I’m so glad the two of you got away from those demons.