Pop star Rihanna hit boyfriend Chris Brown, slapping him "numerous times" before he allegedly beat her and left her with serious facial injuries, according to reports.
Brown is accused of slamming Rihanna's head against the passenger window before punching her several times in the face while driving his rented Lamborghini last month.
But Rihanna was the first one to lash out at Brown — after seeing a text message from another woman — and continued to fight him as he punched her, according to celebrity gossip website TMZ.
Brown's lawyers are relying on the new claims to save Brown from jail, with commentators saying Rihanna's alleged violence may take the case out of the felony category.
Brown appeared in court last week over two charges of assault and making criminal threats.
Rihanna told police Brown had beaten her before, according to police reports made immediately after the alleged assault.
Brown also reportedly sent an apology in a text message and also said he was "getting help", an admission which could work against a misdeamour plea.
Meanwhile, Donald Etra, who is representing Rihanna (whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty) said the 21-year-old songstress would be required by law to testify if prosecutors subpoenaed her.
Rihanna was refusing to help police with the investigation last week amid reports she would not be pressing charges after the couple were spotted holidaying together in Miami last week.
"Rihanna says she doesn’t want to testify against him … she has had a change of heart and doesn’t want the case to proceed," a spokesperson was quoted as saying in The Sun.
Brown's arraignment has been postponed until April 6.
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