WASHINGTON: Singer Chris Brown’s trial on an assault charge was put on hold for months Wednesday after prosecutors declined to grant immunity to his bodyguard, who would be a key witness in the case.

Brown will remain in custody for the near future after a Los Angeles judge denied a request by the Grammy-winning singer’s attorney to release him from custody while he awaits trial.

Brown’s trial had been set to start in Washington on Wednesday, and Brown’s bodyguard, Christopher Hollosy, had been expected to testify and say that he, not Brown, hit a man outside a hotel in the nation’s capital in October. Hollosy was tried separately and convicted Monday of assault, but he plans to appeal.

Hollosy’s lawyer has said that unless Hollosy is granted immunity, he will not testify until his appeal is over.

A lawyer for Brown said in court Wednesday that could take at least six months. Prosecutors have said it could take a year. No new trial date for Brown was set.

Prosecutors told a judge they decided not to grant Hollosy immunity because he refused to meet with them to discuss his testimony following his conviction. They also believe his likely testimony, that he alone threw a punch, would be a lie.

Prosecutors say Brown and Hollosy hit 20-year-old Parker Adams after Adams tried to get into a photo Brown was taking with two women outside his tour bus. Witnesses testified at Hollosy’s trial that Adams and Brown exchanged words over the picture and Brown, then Hollosy, hit Adams.

Hollosy told police a different story. He said he hit Adams after Adams tried to get on Brown’s tour bus. Brown denied hitting Adams and made a similar statement to police.