I remember insisting that Chris would end up being prosecuted, despite Rihanna’s misguided efforts to stand by her man. Because the O.J.-Nicole Brown Simpson precedent led to laws mandating arrest in cases of domestic abuse even against the victim’s wishes.
[Chris Brown charged for assaulting girlfriend Rihanna, TIJ, March 6, 2009]
It was a feeding frenzy truly worthy of O.J. Simpson…
Hordes of star-struck fans and paparazzi piled into the Los Angeles Superior Courtroom of Judge Patricia Schnegg yesterday. This included representatives from over 50 national and international news organizations. All were there to revel in what they expected would be a sensational first day in the trial of Chris Brown.
What had these gawkers salivating, of course, was the prospect of watching Rihanna testify. Because, even if reluctantly, her account of how (and perhaps even why) Chris beat the crap out of her a few months ago would be too prurient to resist.
But as the opening quote indicates, I had no such expectation. Because it was disturbingly clear to me from the day he was arrested that, far from saying anything that might incriminate Chris, Rihanna was going to do all she could to exonerate him.
No doubt this is why, just minutes before yesterday’s proceedings were scheduled to convene, prosecutors made Chris an offer he could not refuse.
What was surprising, however, was how sweet a plea it was: five years probation and six months of community service, which he can probably serve by shooting hoops with underprivileged kids a few times a week back home in Virginia.
All the same, it’s noteworthy that the judge went out of her way to admonish Rihanna that the restraining order she issued is intended as much to protect Chris from her as to protect her from him. Indeed, some might infer from this “stay-away order” that Judge Schnegg felt Rihanna provoked and/or enabled much of her own abuse.
But since this plea will do nothing to punish Chris (who faced up to five years in prison), I hope the domestic violence classes the judge ordered him to attend will do something to rehabilitate his abusive temper.
On the other hand, Rihanna has displayed all of the characteristics of the battered woman syndrome. Therefore, the judge probably should have ordered her to undergo psychological counseling.
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