Chris Brown to make plea deal

Apr 6, 2009, 9:15 GMT

The 19-year-old singer - who has been charged with felony assault and making criminal threats in relation to his alleged assault of Rihanna - is due in court in Los Angeles later today (06.04.09) for an arraignment hearing and is expected to plead not guilty. EPA/BOB CHAMBERLIN

Chris Brown is "close" to agreeing a plea bargain.

The 19-year-old singer - who has been charged with felony assault and making criminal threats in relation to his alleged assault of Rihanna - is due in court in Los Angeles later today (06.04.09) for an arraignment hearing and is expected to plead not guilty.

However, gossip website TMZ claims Chris' lawyers are in "serious" plea bargain negations, and are "close" to securing a deal.

Rihanna, who is currently visiting family in her native Barbados, has reportedly told lawyers she does not want to testify and is keen for Chris to broker a deal.

A source said: "Rihanna is in Barbados right now because she wants to be as far away from this case as possible."

It was initially claimed Chris - who faces over four years in prison if found guilty - was willing to plead either guilty or no contest to a misdemeanour to avoid a jail sentence.

Chris is accused of hitting, biting and choking 21-year-old Rihanna until she was unconscious during an altercation in his rented silver Lamborghini in February.

Meanwhile, Rihanna's father Ronald Finty has assured her fans she is fully recovered following the incident.

He said: "Yeah, she's back in Barbados. Of course, I'm happy to have her home. Things are good with her. She is doing really, really well. She's back to herself again."