Shortlink to this content: http://bit.ly/2tA5dF3

Sunday, July 2, 2017 6:43am ET by  

, , , , ,

Divorce court hears of Mel B and Stephen Belafonte's 'improvident lifestyle choices'

The Los Angeles Superior Court heard on Friday (June 30) about the tax debts and lack of income in Mel B and Stephen Belafonte's household.

Jacalyn Davis, representing the former Spice Girl explained how the couple's tax problems were 'sustained through improvident lifestyle choices'.  

Davis continued: 

"They never had money at the end of the year to pay their taxes. All their community income was being spent and then some. In this marriage, that would be Miss Brown's income from the Spice Girls."

Belafonte's solicitor, Grace Jamra, has asked Mel B to pay temporary spousal support and $200,000 (£154,000) legal fees to her client as he has no income.

In court documents, it was stated that Mel B earns “$220,000 (£167,000) and $250,000 (£190,000) a month” after making $1.587 million (£1.2million) from her America’s Got Talent contract.

Also, that she makes $300,000 (£228,000) a year from her contract with nutrition company Jenny Craig.

Jamra also said that Mel B: 'wiped out all her Spice Girls money, approximately 50 million if not more."

Jamra asked Judge Lawrence Riff to order the sale of the couple’s Los Angeles home if necessary. It is currently on the market for $8 million (£6.1million).

Both Mel B and Stephen Belafonte were present in court but did not speak.

In the court files, Mel B stated: “I have tried to leave the Respondent many times. Every time I tried, the Respondent threatened me with violence and threatened to destroy my life in every way.”

The couple got married in Las Vegas in 2007. Their divorce hearing will commence on September 25 and the judge will decide this Wednesday (July 5) whether spousal support will be granted in favour of Belafonte.

Belafonte currently has access to their 5-year-old daughter, Madison, but not to Mel's daughter, Angel, who's real father is the actor Eddie Murphy

  Shortlink to this content: http://bit.ly/2tA5dF3