Unseen pictures purportedly of Rihanna taken in the hours after she was assaulted by former Chris Brown have emerged online.

The graphic photos, published by celebrity website MediaTakeOut, appear to show the singer with extensive bruising, including one on her right eye.

Rihanna's lips also feature cuts which the website claims she sustained after being “punched over and over” by Brown. It is the second batch of photos to surface online.

The singer has yet to comment on the release of the latest photos, which comes in the same week that a restraining order against Brown was relaxed by a US judge.

Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg's said Rihanna consented to a relaxation of the order.

Brown was convicted of assaulting Rihanna following an incident shortly before the 2009 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

(by Jason Gregory)