Ashley Morrison husband Rob Morrison in court; anchor accused of choking wife

February 20, 2013 (STAMFORD, Conn.) -- Before he went into a Stamford, Connecticut, court Tuesday, 44-year-old New York City anchor Rob Morrison told reporters he had ''never laid hands'' on his wife Ashley Morrison.

But the judge said the police report indicates ''a serious incident'' and the ''likelihood of a serious history.'' The judge ordered Rob Morrison to stay 100 yards away from his wife, except in the workplace. The two both work as news anchors at CBS News in New York - she anchors CBS MoneyWatch. Ashley Morrison was not in court.
"She wanted an order of protection in this point in time with respect to herself but not with respect to work. She feels very comfortable if they're working together," said Steven Mandel, Ashley Morrison's attorney. The couple has a 7-year-old son. Police say he was not involved in the incident. Both Morrisons used to work at WVIT in Hartford, Connecticut. CBS2 in New York has not commented about when the Morrisons will be back on air; they've said it's a "personal matter."
An alleged death threat was revealed in a court document released during Tuesday's arraignment. Meanwhile, New York City police said they were called to the couple's former Manhattan home on West 90th Street 11 times between 2004 and 2009 because of domestic disputes. They said one call resulted in an arrest, but that case was sealed. In the 10 cases that did not result in an arrest, the calls involved verbal disputes and harassment, with no allegations of physical violence, the police said.
In the Stamford case, a police officer wrote that Morrison said "he would kill his wife" if he were released. Rob Morrison is charged with strangulation, threatening and disorderly conduct. His lawyer says the allegations have been exaggerated.
Morrison's lawyer, Robert Skovgaard, did not enter a plea at the arraignment. He said afterward a plea would come "at the appropriate time." Skovgaard did not immediately return a call about the New York incidents.
Outside the courthouse, Morrison said: "I did not choke my wife. I've never raised my hands to my wife." Morrison was released Tuesday on the $100,000 bond he posted Sunday. He is due back in court in Stamford on March 26.
Rob Morrison, who has been a combat correspondent and was a reporter and anchor for WNBC-TV, anchors WCBS-TV's news programs "This Morning" and "News at Noon." Ashley Morrison worked for Bloomberg Television before joining "CBS MoneyWatch."
Skovgaard said that because of the order of protection, Rob Morrison "will not be going home tonight."