Ja Rule released on bail from assault charge

Ja Rule has been released on bail of $7,500 (€6,261) - after appearing in a Toronto, Canada court on an assault charge.

The rapper, 28, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, refused to enter a plea on Monday on the charge of causing bodily harm.

Ja Rule is alleged to have been involved in a violent nightclub knife attack on 5 June - although there has been a court-ordered publication ban on the evidence.

His lawyer Steve Skurka says the publication ban was standard procedure to prevent having the trial heard "before a man even walks into a courtroom. It's to protect an accused person from having information released.

"There's already been false information released from these allegations."

According to his bail conditions, the rapper is not allowed to contact the alleged victim and witnesses, or consume alcohol while in Canada.