Troubled British soul singer Amy Winehouse has been charged with assault stemming from an alleged altercation last September, police in London said. People magazine said the 25-year-old Grammy Award winner, who has a history of erratic behavior and substance abuse, has been ordered to appear in court this month to answer for her alleged behavior at the fancy End of Summer Ball in London's Berkeley Square.

Craig Meehan's lawyer David Orbaum told Dewsbury Magistrates' Court the case against him on charges of possessing indecent images of children was "truly unusual and extremely bizarre".In his closing speech after a five-day trial, the defence solicitor said there was no proof Meehan had viewed the images found on his computer and mobile phone.Mr Orbaum told District Judge Jonathan Bennett: "The case as a whole simply is not proved and the defendant should be acquitted."Meehan, 22, is charged with possessing 136 images on a computer, although a number of these images could not be dated and a number may be duplicates, the court heard today.He is also charged with possessing a further image of a topless 15-year-old girl on his mobile phone.

By DEBORAH McALEESE NORTHERN Ireland's bail laws came under further scrutiny today after a career criminal with over 100 previous convictions for robbery, burglaries and thefts, was granted court bail despite objections from police who fear he may reoffend.

A NORTH East solicitor arrested for allegedly perverting the course of justice has had his bail extended. Paul Donoghue, 35, was due to answer bail yesterday.

By Asseem Shaikh PUNE: The police on Wednesday received a severe setback as a magistrate's court granted bail to a gang of five burglary suspects because the chargesheets were not filed within the stipulated period of 60 days by the Deccan and Kothrud police stations.