Assault charge for Bobbit's former wife

The former Lorena Bobbitt, accused of cutting off her husband's penis with a kitchen knife in 1994, arrived in court yesterday to face charges of assaulting her mother.

Lorena Gallo, who has used her maiden name since her divorce from John Wayne Bobbitt in 1995, was scheduled to be arraigned yesterday. If she is convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $2,500 (pounds 1,500) fine. Ms. Gallo's parents accompanied her to the courthouse.

Ms. Gallo, 28, (pictured right) had been living with her parents. Neighbours told police that her mother, 49-year-old Elvia Gallo, was watching television on Friday morning when her daughter entered the room and started punching her with a closed fist, police said on Sunday.

Elvia Gallo's son separated the two women.

She was arrested at a friend's house, and later freed on $750 bail.

Ms. Gallo, who has an unlisted telephone number, could not be reached for comment over the weekend.

Her mother suffered minor injuries, including an abrasion around the eyes and minor scratches, said police Lieutenant Paul Harris.

During her widely-publicised trial in 1994, Ms. Gallo said years of sexual abuse drove her to cut off her former husband's penis, which was reattached surgically.

She was found not guilty of malicious wounding by reason of insanity.

Mr Bobbitt, now 30, said last month that he was leaving a life of talk shows and porno movies and moving to the small town of Fallon, Nevada, where four of his five brothers live.