Rihanna Case Hinges on Police Photo

The domestic assault case that started a national debate could be called to a halt before it starts. Singer Chris Brown’s lawyer says he wants to look into how the LAPD photo of a battered Rihanna ended up on the celebrity site TMZ.com. If misconduct or bias is shown, Brown’s lawyer will ask for a mistrial. Brown, 19, is charged with beating his pop star girlfriend in a fight that ended with him allegedly choking and biting Rihanna after a pre-Grammy party. At his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to felony charges of assault and making criminal threats. In other news, a judge has released $1.4 million in loaned jewelry Rihanna was wearing that night; the court had been holding it as evidence.