Actor Sheen charged with assault

Mr Sheen spent much of Christmas Day in a cell

Actor Charlie Sheen has been charged with assaulting and threatening his wife Brooke Mueller during an argument on Christmas Day.

Despite the charges, the couple left the court in the Colorado ski resort of Aspen hugging each other.

Ms Mueller's lawyer Yale Galanter said: "Brooke would like this case to be over and charges dismissed so they can get on with their lives."

Mr Sheen has not yet entered a plea. He is due to return to court on 15 March.

The 44-year-old star was charged with menacing, misdemeanour assault and criminal mischief. The menacing charge covers the alleged use of a deadly weapon in a threatening manner.

Mr Sheen could face up to three years behind bars if convicted.

Children's issues

Judge James Boyd also lifted a "no contact" portion of a restraining order that had barred Mr Sheen from speaking to Ms Mueller or having contact with her. Lawyers for both sides wanted the order lifted.

Mr Galanter said: "I can tell you, Brooke very badly wanted to have contact with Charlie.

"There are many children's issues that she wanted to communicate with him about. They have two gorgeous beautiful babies together."

Mr Sheen is accused of holding a knife to his wife's throat and threatening to kill her.

The Platoon and Wall Street star spent much of Christmas Day in a cell following his arrest.

Stolen car

It is not the actor's first brush with the law. He was arrested in 1996 for assaulting a woman, who claimed she had been knocked unconscious at his home.

He was also the only star named as a client of "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss, testifying at her trial that he had paid her $50,000 (£32,000) for escorts.

Last week the actor's stolen car was discovered overturned at the bottom of a cliff near his Los Angeles home.

Police officers said there was no evidence that anybody had been inside the car at the time of the crash.