Appearing in a Los Angeles courtroom yesterday was Chris Brown, who decided that it would be in the best interests of all if he decided to plead not guilty to the beatdown he gave Rihanna:

Nearly two months after police found his girlfriend, the pop star Rihanna, bloodied and bruised on a Hancock Park street, Brown appeared in Los County Superior Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of felony assault and criminal threats. The 19-year-old spoke in a voice so low that many of the three dozen journalists who had waited an hour for the hearing to begin were unsure if he had even answered Judge Patricia Schnegg’s inquiry.

The judge told lawyers to return to court April 29 to set a date for a preliminary hearing but said Brown does not have to attend. The entire proceeding took less than two minutes, surprising some members of Brown’s entourage who filed into the courtroom as the arraignment was ending.

Outside the courtroom, a lawyer for Rihanna said there were ongoing plea negotiations between Brown and prosecutors.

“I believe there are efforts by all of the parties to resolve the case expeditiously and fairly,” said the lawyer, Donald Etra.

He said the 21-year-old was willing to testify against Brown, but hoped that a deal would be reached before trial so “she can get back to her life and her career.

“She would be pleased if this is over quickly,” he said.

Well, Rihanna, this probably won’t be over that quickly unless the behind-closed-doors negotiations between your lawyers and Chris’ lawyers goes very well.

Her father, for his part, wants to know who beat up his daughter if Chris didn’t do it:

After hearing the news that Chris Brown pleaded not guilty after being charged with allegedly beating his daughter, Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, told Usmagazine.com exclusively that Brown “needs to stop being in denial” about what he did.

“So what happened? Somebody else did this to Rihanna then?” Fenty told Us. “I just would like to see justice go in the right direction.” [...]

“I don’t want his career to be damaged — it’s damaged already,” Fenty told Us Monday. “I think he’s a talented guy, but everybody should have to pay. When you do the crime, you do the time. I don’t want to see him locked up for a long time — I just want him to acknowledge and get some help.”

If Brown claims to be not guilty, Fenty wants to know who is responsible.

“Who did it — that’s the question now,” he said. “If he’s not guilty, who did it? He should say ‘guilty’ and let the court be leaning into him and try himself to the mercy of the court, see if he gets a fine…”

He added: “Now he’s going to go beyond that and it could go longer, it can be even worse. It can be worse for him in the long run.”

He’s quite an understanding guy, that Ronald.

Well, all we can do now is wait for either the trial to start or for an agreement to be reached…although it does occur to me that pleading not guilty might not be the best thing Chris could have done.  If he really wants to get out of this, I suggest he fire his lawyers and hire a group of his most fanatical fans, because they obviously can come up with a zillion reasons as to why Chris is totally innocent and Rihanna is a no-talent skanky disease-ridden ho.  I’m sure they realize that no-talent skanky disease-ridden hos deserve a beatdown now and then.

Oh, one last blurb:

He has apologized for the Feb. 8 incident and said he was seeking counseling from his mother, pastor and others.

Including the watercraft sales guy.  He’s just a fount of relationship advice.  When you feel like slamming your girlfriend’s face into the window, just take a buzz around the water, and your frustrations magically vanish!

Source: k