Brown pleads not guilty to Rihanna assault charges

CHRIS Brown has pleaded not guilty to threatening and assaulting his girlfriend, fellow music star Rihanna.

The 19-year-old R&B singer entered his plea, speaking in a soft voice, while standing alongside his lawyer, Mark Geragos.

Within moments of the hearing, a lawyer for Rihanna said the singer was hoping a plea deal could be reached before the case goes to trial.