FOXY BROWN - BROWN DETERMINED TO FIGHT BATTERY CHARGES

LATEST: Defiant FOXY BROWN is determined to fight assault charges after pleading not guilty to a misdemeanour rap against her. The rapper appeared in court in Florida yesterday (28MAR07) to face charges stemming from an alleged fight in a beauty parlour last month (FEB07). Her appearance before Judge JOEL LAZARUS came after the court issued an arrest warrant for Brown after she failed to show up for a scheduled court date last week (ends23MAR07). And Brown insisted she isn't going to back down in this case, telling reporters, "I am going to stand up and fight and take care of this." Brown, real name INGA MARCHAND, was charged with battery and resisting arrest without violence after refusing to leave the Queen Beauty Supply store as it was closing. She was allegedly applying beauty products in the store's bathroom when an employee asked her to leave. She refused and threw hair glue at the employee before spitting on the staff member. Judge Lazarus set a trial date for June (07). Meanwhile, Brown's lawyers explained the rapper missed her court date last week because an arraignment notice was mailed to an old address.