Brad Pitt has been cleared of child abuse allegations.
The 52-year-old actor was accused of striking his 15-year-old son Maddox on board a private jet in late September while under the influence of alcohol but, following weeks of extensive interviews with the child and evidence gathering, the Los Angeles County Department Of Children And Family Services decided to close the case on Wednesday (09.11.16).
Law enforcement sources told TMZ that it has been decided the ‘Allied’ star had not physically or emotionally harmed Maddox when they allegedly got into a war of words on their private jet.
Now that the investigation has been closed and he has been cleared of the allegations, Brad should have a better chance in his bitter custody war with estranged wife Angelina Jolie, 41.
The actress – who married the hunk two years ago – filed for divorce from Brad just days after the jet incident and asked for sole physical custody of their children Maddox, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.
However, Brad is determined to get joint custody and it seems, at present, the Californian courts are in his favour.
Until they reach an agreement, the children will remain in Angelina’s care and Brad will have "therapeutic visits."
A statement said recently: "The six children will stay in their mother’s custody, and the children will continue therapeutic visits with their father. This has been determined by childcare professionals to be in the children’s best interest."
Meanwhile, according to TMZ, Brad gave the same separation date – September 15, 2016 – as Angelina in his documents, but neither star has mentioned spousal or child support.