A criminal domestic assault charge against country singer 'WHISPERIN' BILL' ANDERSON will be dismissed in a year if he stays out of trouble, a judge has ruled.

DEBORAH MARLIN, 41, took out a warrant against Anderson in March (03), accusing him of trying to injure her with the door of a moving vehicle and shoving her during an argument at the singer's Old Hickory, Tennessee, home.

Marlin, a former girlfriend of the MY LIFE singer who claims she lived with him for three years, says, "I think it justifies me going (to court). They listened to my case and they did do something. It wasn't just dismissed... I feel satisfied with the conclusion."

Anderson, 65, was the subject of at least three other domestic complaints by Marlin in February (03) - none of which resulted in charges.

27/06/2003 02:04