Batman star denies assault on mom, sister

July 23, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

LONDON — Christian Bale on Tuesday denied allegations of assault made by his mother and sister, hours after the star of “The Dark Knight” was arrested, questioned by London police and released.

The 34-year-old Bale spent four hours at a police station, but was not charged and was released on bail. British media reported that Bale’s mother and sister complained he had assaulted them at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Sunday night, a day before the European premiere of “The Dark Knight.”

Bale’s London-based law firm, Schillings said Bale issued a statement denying that an assault took place.

“Christian Bale attended a London police station today on a voluntary basis,” the statement read. “Bale, who denies the allegation, cooperated throughout, gave his account in full of the events in question, and has left the station without any charge being made against him by the police.”

A woman thought to be Bale’s sister Sharon told reporters “it’s a family matter” from her home in Corfe Mullen, 110 miles southwest of London. A man who answered the door at the home of his mother Jenny Bale in nearby Bournemouth said she did not want to comment.

The Sun newspaper said Sharon and Jenny Bale had made the complaint.

The reports surface just days after “The Dark Knight” took a record $158.4 million at the box office in its opening weekend.

In “The Dark Knight,” Bale reprises the role of wealthy playboy Bruce Wayne and his crime-fighting alter-ego Batman.

Museum chief steps down

CLEVELAND — The executive director of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History is stepping down to return to teaching and research after eight years in the job.

Bruce Latimer, 54, started with the museum in 1989 as curator and head of its Department of Physical Anthropology. He was named executive director in 2001.

The museum has started a multimillion-dollar expansion fundraising effort. Latimer said Monday in a statement that the museum needs a new leader to oversee and complete the expansion and renovation.

His retirement takes effect at the end of August. The museum said its chief operating officer, Bonnie Cummings, will serve as interim director.

Rap figure is convicted

LAS VEGAS — A jury found a 37-year-old San Francisco rap music figure guilty in the slaying of a Kansas City rival in what authorities called a West Coast versus Midwest rap war.

Andre “Mac Minister” Dow faces life in prison after being convicted Monday of first-degree murder in the May 2005 killings of 24-year-old Anthony “Fat Tone” Watkins of Kansas City, and Watkins’ friend, 22-year-old Jermaine Akins.

Dow, a promoter who has appeared on rap albums, made headlines several years ago when he brawled with another rapper at a televised Source Awards show.

Police called the Las Vegas slayings revenge for the November 2004 drive-by slaying in Kansas City of 34-year-old California rapper Andre “Mac Dre” Hicks.

Today’s birthdays

Radio personality Don Imus is 68. Singer David Essex is 61. Actor Woody Harrelson is 47. Actor Eriq Lasalle (“ER”) is 46. Guitarist Slash of Velvet Revolver (and Guns N’ Roses) is 43. Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman is 41. Country singer Alison Krauss is 37. Actor-comedian Marlon Wayans (“The Wayans Brothers”) is 36. Actor Omar Epps is 35. Singer Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child) is 28. Actor Daniel Radcliffe (“Harry Potter” movies) is 19.