Bieber assault case moved to April

(Updated) Justin Bieber was not in court today for an assault charge he faces in Toronto — and he doesn’t have to show up for for the next hearing on April 14th either.

Fans waited to fill the courtroom in Toronto, hoping Bieber would be there. But the pop star didn’t even make a video appearance. Police allege Bieber hit a limousine driver several times in the back of the head on December 30th.

Bieber turned himself into police back in January. The 20 year old from Stratford is charged with one count of assault.

His lawyer Brian Greenspan says there was two ways of proceeding, more serious or less serious — and they decided to take the less serious option.

“The matter is a misdemeanor. It’s being proceeded as a misdemeanor rather than a more serious form of offence so it will be a summary conviction matter. At this stage that’s all there is to say.”

Some of the fans had trouble expressing their feelings. “I love Justin just ’cause, I don’t know, um…”

“He’s just really nice and he’s funny and he has a nice voice and he’s just very kind to others and like even though he does do like this kind of stuff and he does get charged, that like he’s just a very kind person overall.”

“It’s tough for him because he has cameras in his face all day and it’s really hard for him to do anything so, I think it’s kind of fair, like, what he’s doing, I know it’s, like, not great, but I think that, everyone makes mistakes, and, he’s not, like, not everyone’s perfect, so.”

“He, should, like, learn from his mistakes but at the same time like he’s like young still and he just like, there’s a lot of pressure, like on him right now and like I just like, I think people should like back off.”

Although this matter will be back in court April 14th, Bieber’s lawyer says no actual trial date has been set.
He did not appear in court this morning; and he’s not expected to appear next month.