LOS ANGELES: The creator of ''Desperate Housewives'' says he received permission to kill Nicollette Sheridan's character four months before he was involved in a dispute during which the actress claims he struck her on the head.

Marc Cherry testified Monday about the decision to kill off the Edie Britt character in the ABC series, which Sheridan's lawyers claim was retaliation for her complaining about Cherry's hit in September 2008.

Cherry says that he was given approval by a top ABC executive to kill off the character during a brief meeting in May 2008.

Sheridan is seeking more than $6 million for wrongful termination and battery claims.

The actress concluded testifying Monday, telling jurors she didn't give Cherry permission to strike her. He claims he was giving her artistic direction.