Rihanna Seeks Ease on Chris Brown's Retraining Order

Rihanna was planning to request an easing of the restraining order placed on Chris Brown at a scheduled court hearing. She would not appear in court for Brown's formal sentencing, her attorney Donald Etra said.

"I'm going to be requesting a level one protective order not to annoy, molest, or harass my client. This would be a step down from the current order in which Brown must stay 50 yards away from my client," Etra said. Brown struck a plea deal earlier in a Los Angeles court on charges he assaulted Rihanna. He is now expected to be formally sentenced to five years of probation, 180 days of labour and one year of domestic violence counselling. Brown, who has publicly apologised to Rihanna, will give his first television interview on the matter on Wednesday night.