Housewives writer contradicts evidence

Los Angeles - A former writer on Desperate Housewives has contradicted testimony by the show's creator that he decided to kill off Nicollette Sheridan's character months before the pair had an on-set fight.

Lori Kirkland Baker told jurors in Sheridan's wrongful termination trial that she first heard the actress' role was being eliminated in December 2008, not in May of that year as creator Marc Cherry had testified.

Baker was a writer and co-executive producer on the show's fourth and fifth seasons. Her contract was not renewed after that.

Sheridan claims Cherry struck her during an argument in September 2008, and he killed off her character after ABC officials cleared him of wrongdoing.

Baker insisted that discussions of killing Sheridan's role didn't occur until after Sheridan and Cherry fought.