Court denies request to delay Chris Brown case

Singer Chris Brown sits courtside during Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers in Orlando, Florida, June 14, 2009.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a request to delay an upcoming hearing in the case of R&B singer Chris Brown, who is accused of assaulting his former girlfriend, pop star Rihanna.

Brown's Los Angeles-based attorney Mark Geragos sought to delay a hearing set for Monday, but that hearing will now go on as scheduled with Brown, whose hit records include "Kiss Kiss" and "Run It," expected to appear, according to court records.

At the hearing, evidence is expected to be presented against Brown, who is accused of having assaulted and made criminal threats to "Umbrella" singer Rihanna in February following a Los Angeles party on the eve of the music industry's Grammy awards.

Geragos was seeking information about a police probe into a photo of Rihanna, looking bruised and bloody, that was taken by Los Angeles detectives after the alleged assault and later leaked to the media.

A lower court judge had denied Geragos' request saying it was too soon to seek information about the leak, and the state Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld that ruling, according to a posting of the decision on the court's website.

Brown has pleaded not guilty in the case. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

An attorney for Rihanna, has said that if requested she will testify against her former boyfriend at Monday's hearing.

(Editing by Dean Goodman)