Singer Chris Brown asks judge to let him be absent from DC court appearance in assault case

WASHINGTON – R&B singer Chris Brown is asking a judge’s permission to be absent from court next week in his misdemeanour assault case in the District of Columbia.

Brown’s lawyers will ask a judge Friday to let Brown skip a Monday status conference in D.C. Superior Court. He was ordered into anger management rehabilitation this week following a Los Angeles court appearance.

The lawyers say they haven’t had an opportunity to review evidence with Brown. They say it doesn’t make sense for him to check out of rehab and travel cross-country when all they plan to do Monday is request a new court date.

Brown and bodyguard Chris Hollosy were arrested last month on charges of punching a man outside a hotel who tried to jump into a picture with the singer.