Attorney says Rihanna will testify against Chris Brown if called by prosecutors

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY |AP Entertainment Writer

9:17 PM EST, March 6, 2009

In this Feb. 7, 2009 file photo, Rihanna arrives at the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file) (Matt Sayles, AP / February 7, 2009)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rihanna's attorney says the singer would testify against Chris Brown if called as a witness in her boyfriend's assault case. Donald Etra, who is representing the 21-year-old Barbados native, said Friday that Rihanna would be required by law to testify if prosecutors subpoena her.

Etra appeared in court Thursday when Brown made his first appearance on charges of assaulting and making criminal threats to his superstar girlfriend. Brown's arraignment was postponed until April 6.

Etra said Rihanna did not want a "no contact" order issued against Brown, but that she will report any violations of an order prohibiting the 19-year-old singer from threatening, harassing or harming his girlfriend. A court order grants her the authority to record any violations of the order.

The order is not uncommon in cases where a victim says he or she doesn't want to completely cut off communication with a person, said Steve Cron, a Santa Monica criminal defense attorney who has represented celebrities such as Paula Poundstone and Scott Weiland.

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