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Chris Brown has broken his silence after his re-application for bail was successful and he was released from police custody in Manchester.
Brown, 36, had initially been remanded into custody in Manchester until June 13, having been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent after he was arrested in the early hours of May 15 at a five-star hotel in the city.
Yesterday, it was confirmed at Southwark Crown Court that he had been granted bail after his previous request was denied.
Brown then took to Instagram to post: ‘FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!!’
Referring to the name of his upcoming international tour, he added: ‘BREEZYBOWL.’
Police arrested Brown on suspicion of causing GBH to music producer Abe Diaw at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, Central London, in February 2023.
The American R&B star was detained just after 2am at the Lowry Hotel, and it was later confirmed that he was charged.
He first appeared in Manchester Magistrates’ Court on May 17, where the decision to remand him was made.
Now that his re-application for bail has been accepted, he must pay a £5million security fee to the court, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.
Judge Tony Baumgartner has said Brown can go ahead with the scheduled international tour, including in the UK in June and July, as part of his bail conditions.
Brown did not appear in court for the bail application hearing.
He must surrender his passport if he is not travelling, Judge Baumgartner said.
Brown must live at a specific address known to the court but is not allowed to visit the nightclub.
He also cannot contact his accuser or apply for international travel documents.
A case management hearing has been set for October 24.
Ahead of the new hearing, his manager, Anthony Wilson, was pictured bringing Brown KFC and some clothes, the Daily Mail reports, on May 15.
Brown arrived at the dock for the first hearing wearing Nike tracksuit bottoms and a plain black T-shirt with bleach-blonde hair. Two security guards accompanied him.
He spoke to give his name as Christopher Maurice Brown and confirmed his date of birth as May 5, 1989, to the court.
When asked for his current address, he responded: ‘The Lowry Hotel.’
The judge said the case will be heard at Southwark Crown Court in London, with the next hearing to be held on June 13 at 10am, as GBH is ‘too serious’ an offence to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court.
Prosecutor Hannah Nicholls outlined the accusations against Brown, saying the ‘circumstances of the offence are extremely serious’ and that the attack was captured on CCTV and carried out in a club ‘full of people.’
Nicholls said Brown struck Diaw ‘several times’ before chasing him across the bar, then punching and kicking him alongside another person.
A bail application followed from Brown’s barrister, Grace Forbes, which was denied.
Brown confirmed to Judge Hirst that he understood he had further been remanded in custody until next month.
The singer nodded to an associate in the front row of the court’s public gallery as he was led from the dock following the 30-minute hearing.
There were too many members of the press and public to fit into one court, so the proceedings were also shown via video link in court 14.
Chris Brown UK and Ireland Tour Dates
June 15 Manchester – Co-op Live
June 16 Manchester – Co-op Live
June 19 Cardiff – Principality Stadium
June 21 London – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 22 London – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 24 Manchester – Co-op Live
June 26 Birmingham – Villa Park
June 28 Dublin – Marlay Park
July 1 Glasgow – Hampden Park National Stadium
July 3 Manchester – Co-op Live
Adele Kelly, the Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North, previously said: ‘We have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Chris Brown with one count of grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
‘The alleged incident occurred in London on 19 February 2023.
‘He will have his first court appearance on Friday, 16 May, at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
‘The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
‘It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
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