March 16, 1998 16:16

MARK E SMITH IN COURT OVER ASSAULT CHARGE

[B]MARK E SMITH[/B] has been told to undergo alcohol counselling by a New York court after being charged with assault...

MARK E SMITH of THE FALL was ordered to undergo alcohol treatment by a New York judge on Tuesday (April 14), after he appeared in court to answer in relation to charges of allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and Fall keyboardist Julia Nagle last week.

Smith appeared in court with his lawyer, after going missing. He had been arrested by police on April 8 and arraigned on April 10 on misdeameanour assault and harassment charges. Aswell as the assault charge in relation to Nagle, Smith chased other members of the band through the corridors of the Manhattan hotel.

Smith posted his bail of US$1000 and then left without notifying any members of the band of his whereabouts. Smith is due to appear in court again on September 30.

The judge told Smith that he must submit monthly reports to the court, and observe a "limited order of protection" concerning Nagle. However the protection order would allow her to still continue playing live with The Fall. The band are supposed to appear back in the US in the autumn in a line-up that also boasts Pere Ubu, The Stranglers and The Buzzcocks.

The Fall's spokeman said Smith had spoken to him and said he was well and likely to return to the UK on Friday. Smith said that the upcoming dates at London's Dingwalls would not be in jeopardy. "It's just another explosion on the Fall Rd, and the tank rolls on", the spokesman said.