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Singer Bobby Brown charged with battery after pop star wife reports fight at home submitted by: Lisa D. source: Atlanta Journal and Constitution, CNN, Associated Press Date: December 10, 2003 By MARCIA LANGHENRY Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer Singer Bobby Brown was charged with battery Wednesday, three days after a fight with his pop star wife, Whitney Houston, left her injured Sunday. Fulton County police spokesman Kurtis Young said Brown, 34, received a copy of the charge and was arrested after turning himself in Wednesday. The former member of the teen R&B group New Edition is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing Jan. 7. The volatile couple and their attorneys spent most of Wednesday afternoon with police in Fulton County Magistrate Court's North Annex in Dunwoody. "The police wanted to basically give him a copy of the charge," his attorney, Maurice Bennett, said. "They are trying to work it out, as we speak, as husband and wife." Houston declined comment, except through her attorney, Mark Trigg. "She is trying to resolve the matter privately," Trigg said. On Sunday, Fulton police responded to a call by Houston to the couple's home at the Country Club of the South near Alpharetta. Houston, 40, said Brown had struck her on the left side of her face with an open right hand. The responding police officer saw a bruise on Houston's cheek and a cut inside her upper lip, police said. But by the time the officer reached the house, Brown was not there. On Tuesday evening, police returned to the couple's home and spoke to Houston, police spokesman Young said. Young said Brown had flown to California and police were trying to find and interview him. However, Trigg said Wednesday that Brown did not go to California after the altercation. Brown was released after serving seven days in DeKalb County Jail in August for violating his probation for a 1996 drunken driving conviction. He was arrested at an Alpharetta restaurant where he was dining with his wife. Bobby Brown charged with battery Singer charged after altercation with wife Whitney Houston ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Singer Bobby Brown was charged with battery Wednesday after a weekend altercation with his wife, singer Whitney Houston, in which he allegedly threatened to "beat her ass," authorities said. Brown appeared with his lawyer before a judge Wednesday afternoon after meeting with detectives and a court solicitor, said Fulton County Police Cpl. Kurtis Young. He was charged with one count of battery under Georgia's domestic violence law and released. He must return to North Fulton Magistrate Court to answer the charge January 7, according to Fulton County Police. Video from a local news station showed Houston and Brown at the court appearance, Houston with a visible bruise on her left cheek. The couple kissed and held each other as they entered the county building. "We're still together," Houston told reporters as the couple left the court house with their arms around each other. As they drove away, the song "You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman)" blared on the stereo as Houston sang along and Brown kissed her bruised cheek. Under Georgia's domestic violence law, the state automatically files charges when domestic violence is suspected by law enforcement officials. The alleged victim has no say in whether charges are filed, but can choose to cooperate with the investigation or not, Young said. Nancy Seltzer, Houston's publicist, issued a statement Wednesday she said came from a family spokesman. "Bobby Brown is very apologetic about what happened and hopes his wife forgives him," the statement said. Police were called to Brown and Houston's home at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night. "Upon arrival, officers spoke with Ms. Houston, who said Brown confronted her and stated he was going to 'beat her ass.' Shortly thereafter, Mr. Brown struck her with an open right hand, according to Ms. Houston's statement to police," said a police news release. Police said Houston had visible injuries to her face, including a bruise on her left cheek and a cut inside her upper lip. Brown was not there when police arrived. Brown said he was headed to the airport for a flight to Los Angeles, California, police said. In January, Brown served an eight-day sentence in the DeKalb County, Georgia, jail after he pleaded guilty to a 1996 drunken driving charge and a count of speeding. Singer Bobby Brown charged with battery ATLANTA -- Singer Bobby Brown was charged with battery Wednesday, three days after he allegedly hit his wife, singer and actress Whitney Houston. Fulton County police spokesman Kurtis Young said Brown, 34, turned himself in. Brown and Houston left Fulton County Magistrate Court together after they and their attorneys met with police. Brown is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing Jan. 7. Brown's lawyer, Maurice Bennett, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his client and Houston were trying to work out the problem "as husband and wife." Houston, 40, declined comment, but her lawyer, Mark Trigg, echoed Bennett's comments, saying: "She is trying to resolve the matter privately." Houston told police Sunday that Brown had struck her on the left side of her face with an open right hand at the couple's home near Alpharetta. Brown then went to the airport for a flight to Los Angeles, the police report said. Police said Houston had a bruised cheek and a cut inside her upper lip. Simple battery is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Normally on a first offense in domestic violence cases, the charge is dismissed if the defendant undergoes counseling. Brown served seven days in DeKalb County Jail in August for violating his probation for a 1996 drunken driving conviction. He also served 26 days in a Florida jail in 2000 for an earlier probation violation. Houston and Brown have been married since 1992. They have a 10-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina. Site design by: Dolphin Webpage Designs © 1996-2003