LOS ANGELES (AP) - Britney Spears' ex-manager has described a scene of domestic warfare with the singer's father chasing him around a kitchen, punching him and threatening his life.

Sam Lutfi, who is suing Spears' parents for defamation, testified Wednesday while they watched from across the courtroom.

He denied accusations made in a book by Lynne Spears that he was a Svengali who took over her daughter's life.

Lutfi told of days leading to Britney's hospitalization at a psychiatric unit, and jurors saw a video of her ordering him around hours before she was taken away.

Lutfi says Britney feared her father and fled her home when she heard Jamie Spears was coming. Lutfi says the father confronted him twice and punched him on the second visit.