JOHN YANNI CHRISTOPHER - YANNI ESCAPES DOMESTIC BATTERY CHARGE

LATEST: Musician YANNI won't be charged with domestic battery following the alleged dispute with his girlfriend that lead to his arrest last month (MAR06). The Greek-born pianist, real name JOHN YANNI CHRISTOPHER, was arrested on 3 March at his beachfront home in Manalapan, Florida, when SILVIA BARTHES told police he grabbed her, shook her and then threw her on a bed and jumped on her. Bathes suffered a bloody lip, but told officers she might have hit herself when the musician shook her, a police report states. The 51-year-old musician claimed that Barthes kicked him during the altercation. According to MIKE EDMONDSON, a spokesperson for the state attorney in Palm Beach County, "Essentially it came down to a, 'he said, she said.' "The alleged event took place behind closed doors without any independent witnesses or evidence to support the charge." A statement from Yanni reads, "The allegations claimed were always false and completely without any merit."