NORWALK — Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Paul Simon and his wife, recording artist Edie Brickell, appeared in court Monday to face domestic violence charges stemming from a dispute at their New Canaan home Saturday night.
Two days following the fight, Simon, 72, and Brickell, 47, took the witness stand together at a late afternoon arraignment, each charged with one count of disorderly conduct. Holding hands, they assured Norwalk Superior Court Judge William Wenzel that the incident was isolated and a protective order was not necessary.
The couple was arrested Saturday after New Canaan police received a 911 hang-up call from the home at about 8:20 p.m., according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. He described the incident as a "minor physical altercation" and said there was "aggressiveness on both sides."
When they arrived at court Monday afternoon, both were smiling and holding hands.
At the hearing, Simon, dressed in a gray suit, black leather shoes and a green fedora, and, standing next to his wife of over two decades, told the judge that their argument was "atypical."
"Neither of us has any fear," Simon said, after Wenzel asked whether a protective order should be issued. Simon said he and Brickell came to court together, and planned to go watch their son's baseball game later in the afternoon.
"He's no threat to me at all," said Brickell, who held Simon's hand through the brief hearing.
Wenzel said he had reviewed the police report and agreed that there was "not a continuing threat of violence." He decided not to issue a limited protective order, as family services officers had recommended.
Westport attorney Allan Cramer, who is representing both Simon and Brickell, told reporters outside court that "on a scale of 1 to 10, [the dispute] was a 1" and that the physical violence was no more than "a couple pushes." He said the argument took place at a cottage on their property, and Brickell blocked the door as Simon tried to leave.
After the incident, they were not taken into police custody and instead were issued misdemeanor summons to appear in court.
"Before we left the scene, we made assurances both were safe," said Krolikowski. The police chief said both Brickell and Simon were cooperative with responding officers.
"Under Connecticut law, we're obligated to make an arrest because it was domestic violence," he said.
Simon and Brickell's cases were referred to the court system's family relations diversionary program. If they successfully complete it, the charges would be dropped and their records erased.
Krolikowski said the couple is known in New Canaan as "very nice people" who are "quiet and keep to themselves."
Cramer described his clients as "lovely people" who are involved in the community, and said Simon did a benefit concert for the New Canaan police department last fall.
In court Monday, Cramer objected to media cameras in the courtroom, but Wenzel denied the request and allowed photographers to take video and still photos.
Simon seemed unfazed by reporters' presence as he strolled out of the back entrance of Norwalk Superior Court.
"Edie and I are fine. We're going to watch our son's ball game," he said. "That's all I want to say, guys…we're fine. We love each other. We had an argument. That's all."
When asked if he planned on doing any more benefits for the New Canaan police department, Simon smiled. "I did one last fall," he said.
Simon and Brickell are due back in court May 16.
The couple was married in 1992, and Cramer described their relationship as "the best celebrity marriage you can have."
Simon, half of the legendary duo Simon & Garfunkel, has won a dozen Grammy Awards, including three for album of the year, and was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is also a Kennedy Center honoree and was the inaugural recipient in 2007 of the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
Brickell is best known for her work with her band New Bohemians. Earlier this year, Brickell and comedian Steve Martin won a Grammy Award for best American roots song, "Love Has Come For You."
New Canaan is a relatively wealthy town. Its 20,000 residents include captains of industry, including General Electric CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt, and entertainers such as singer Harry Connick Jr.
But when it comes to domestic violence, the chief said, money doesn't matter.
"It's one of the crimes that crosses all borders," Krolikowski said.
Courant staff writer Christine Dempsey contributed to this story.
Source : http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-paul-simon-domestic-violence-arrest-0429-20140428,0,2379548.story
