AceShowbiz - Christina Ricci is fighting her husband James Heerdegen's request for a restraining order.

The actress' legal team was in court on Friday (22Jan21) challenging his request for protection, insisting there is "overwhelming evidence" their client is the victim.

Ricci, who was granted a restraining order against James earlier this week (beg18Jan21), claims she has an audio recording from an alleged fight in June 2020, during which he attacked her.

According to documents, obtained by TMZ, James can be heard "terrorizing Christina, spitting and screaming at her, admitting to violence, following her from room to room, chasing her and then violently assaulting her."

The recording reportedly ends abruptly as an emotional Christina threatens to call the police.

Ricci also filed photos of her alleged injuries from domestic spats to support her protection order request.

Heerdegen filed for his order against the actress on Friday, claiming alcohol and substance abuse is fuelling her allegedly abusive conduct.

In his court documents, he claims Christina has been routinely abusing him physically and verbally while intoxicated during quarantine. He says she would often hit and scratch him with her arms, hands and nails and habitually follow him around their home, screaming and yelling profanities at him in front of their six-year-old son.

James claims Christina filed false domestic violence allegations against him to "leverage" her control over their son, Freddie, and prevent Heerdegen from seeing him. He also claims she filed a false police report.

Ricci's attorney, Samantha Spector, tells TMZ, "This filing is nothing more than a transparently abusive attempt to silence my client. It will not work. Christina will not be intimidated by Mr. Heerdegen and his barrage of misleading claims - and she remains determined to protect her family."

A judge has yet to rule on Heerdegen's request for a restraining order.