LONDON — Amy Winehouse is off the hook after being accused of hitting a fan.
The 25-year-old pop star was acquitted Friday on charges that she assaulted the fan at a London charity ball last fall, the Associated Press reports.
Winehouse had been accused of striking 27-year-old dancer Sherene Flash, who approached her at the End of Summer Ball in London's Berkeley Square on Sept. 26, 2008. Flash claimed that Winehouse hit her in the eye after she asked the British retro-soul singer to take a picture.
Prosecutors claimed it was a deliberate assault, but Winehouse contended that she only pushed Flash because she felt intimidated. During her testimony, Winehouse also argued that at about 5 foot 3 inches tall, she was too short to have punched Flash, who stood nearly four inches taller.
After hearing testimony from both sides, Chief Magistrate Timothy Workman said that he could not be certain Winehouse had deliberately punched Flash.
Winehouse said very little as she left the court following the verdict, other than to say, "I'm going home." Her spokesman, Chris Goodman, told reporters that Winehouse was anxious to put this latest legal hurdle behind her.
"Amy would like to thank her family, friends and legal team for their support during this difficult time," he said. "She has always maintained her innocence and is very happy to move on with her life and put this episode behind her."
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