Terrence Howard: I Never Tried to Kill My Wife

Nine months after Michelle Ghent filed for divorce from Terrence Howard, the commercial production employee filed a restraining order against the Oscar nominated actor Tuesday.

PHOTOS: Biggest celebrity breakups of 2011

In court documents obtained by TMZ, Ghent alleged Howard began physically abusing her just seven days into their marriage. She claims Howard "slugged me across my face and neck" at one point and threatened to throw her over a balcony.

PHOTOS: Stars who survived abuse

Ghent says the abuse continued throughout their one-year union, with Howard smacking her in the face and chipping her tooth with his wedding ring. He also reportedly told her, "If you tell anyone about my personal business, I will kill you and no one will ever know."

Howard, 42, quickly filed legal papers denying that he ever threatened the life of his estranged wife. He also claims Ghent is planning to "release private materials to third parties for her own personal financial gain" unless she received monetary compensation.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's most expensive divorces

The two kept their marriage a secret for four months until the Cannes Film Festival in May 2010. Howard has three kids with ex-wife Lori McCommas, whom he wed in 1989, divorced, then married again in 2005.