After a judge granted Terrence Howard's ex-wife Michelle Ghent a temporary restraining order over claims that the Oscar-winning actor "sucker punched" and kicked her during a fight in Costa Rica, photos of the alleged beat down were just released. 

TMZ obtained pictures of Ghent showing her black eye and bruised arm that all came from The Butler actor.  See photos here:

She claimed that Howard, 44, threatened her wife with a knife during their fight that started because she told him their rekindling to their relationship wasn't working. 

Ghent said that he walked over to a bedside table where he kept 2 curved knives--4-6 inches long.

She said she panicked and then pepper sprayed him. 

"While I was on the ground, (Howard) kicked me repeatedly in the head and shoulders with strong blows," she said. "I knew I had to get away from (Howard) or he would try to kill me."

In addition to the black eye, Ghent said she suffered contusions and swelling.

In a separate statement filed by Howard, he claimed that it was "no coincidence" that Ghent applied for her restraining order while he was promoting  The Butler, adding that she previously said she would "ruin (his) reputation and career with baseless allegations."

Howard, said Ghent is unstable and threatened him through disturbing text messages allegedly sent in the days surrounding their May 6 divorce judgment.

In one alleged May 4 text exchange Howard included as an example, he said that she "tried committing suicide."

Tags: Terrence Howard