After news broke that Mel B. (former Spice Girl singer) and her husband were divorcing after years of alleged abuse at the hands of Belafonte, many wondered what would be the deal with his involvement with her kids (only one of which is his).

Belefonte has helped raise all three of Mel’s children- Phoenix Chi Gulzar (18), Angel Iris Murphy Brown(10), and Madison Belafonte (5).

What Mel B’s Husband Is Asking For

Well today it’s being reported that Belafonte is asking a judge to allow grant him sole custody of he and Mel’s biological daughter, Madison, and he wants visitation rights of his stepdaughter (Mel’s and Eddie’s daughter), Angel. He has been co-raising Angel ever since she was two months old, when he married Mel B. and apparently wants to remain in her life. Here’s what else was reported:

Via TMZ: Belafonte says Murphy has been a marginal presence in Angel’s life, and he’s been the stepdad. Under California law, a stepparent can get “reasonable visitation” if it’s in the best interests of the child. In a letter Belafonte’s lawyer wrote to Mel B’s lawyer on March 31, he staked his claim. The lawyer wrote, “Stephen would like to schedule a meeting as soon as possible to discuss the resolution of temporary issues including his ability to see Madison and Angel, whom we would appreciate continuing to have contact with.”

We’re told Belafonte’s lawyers will raise the issue as the divorce proceeds, but under law he could not ask for stepfather visitation in his divorce response. Our sources say Mel B will strongly oppose Belafonte’s move to get visitation rights for Angel.

What Does Eddie Think?

Throughout this abuse-divorce process, Eddie Murphy has remained silent on the matter. However, now that his child is being included in this clearly dysfunctional family situation, it will be interesting to see if he steps up and tries to stand between his ex’s husband’s attempts with the daughter Eddie, himself, once denied was his own. FYI: Eddie is now involved in his daughter’s life, he just wasn’t sure in the beginning if the baby was his due to the nature of he and Mel B.’s relationship at the time she’d become pregnant apparently. Mel B. also once revealed that Angel views Belafonte as her father figure, although she has a relationship with Eddie.

Recap Of The Alleged Abuse Between Mel B. & Husband

As we previously reported, Mel B. revealed that she has been getting brutally beaten by Belafonte for years in what she says was his way of controlling her. Now that she’s filed for divorce and made this public, all sorts of photos and eyewitness accounts of the alleged abuse have popped up across the internet…including the below pics:
Bruises and swelling that Belafonte allegedly did to Mel B.’s face…

Mel and Belafonte were spotted by paparazzi as she had bandages over her reportedly abused face after having to be briefly admitted to the hospital for treatment of what he allegedly did to her…

Several X-Factor staff members (where Mel B. was a judge) have now reported they’ve witnessed bruises on Mel’s body (like the ones on her arms and eye below) and witnessed Belafonte’s controlling ways. It was also reported that the makeup artists have had to put makeup over her bruises for the show…

Mel’s sister went off on dude on Instagram like she was releasing the 8 years of pinned up frustration she reportedly had with her sister’s rocky marriage to Belafonte.

Stephen Belafonte has denied all abuse claims.