Murray Heading For Messy Divorce

Jennifer Butler Murray filed papers for a legal separation in a Charleston, South Carolina family court on 12 May (08).

According to legal documents obtained by local newspaper the Charleston Post + Courier, Jennifer and the couple's four children moved out of the family home in 2006 as a result of the comedian's "adultery, addiction to marijuana and alcohol, abusive behaviour, physical abuse, sexual addictions and frequent abandonment".

The court papers go on to claim that Murray "hit his wife in the face and then told her she was 'lucky he didn't kill her'".

Local reports state Jennifer has requested a restraining order against the Groundhog Day star to keep him away from her current home.

She has also ordered her lawyers to look into the couple's $7 million (GBP3.5 million) pre-nuptial agreement to determine whether it is still valid.

The pair married in July 1997 and have four sons together, ranging from seven to 15 years of age.