Gibson avoids jail sentence after pleading ‘no contest’ to battery
March 12th, 2011 - 1:34 pm ICT by ANI
London, March 12 (ANI): Mel Gibson, who was accused of striking Oksana Grigorieva during a fight in January 2010, has avoided jail after pleading ‘no contest’ to battery.
He was sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to attend a year of domestic violence counseling.
Gibson said little during the hearing except to acknowledge he understood the charge and plea, reports the Telegraph.
The Russian musician did not attend the hearing but was represented by one of her lawyers.
The actor-director arrived in court accompanied by his attorney, Blair Berk, who has said Gibson sought to end the case after considering the case’s impact on his children, including an infant daughter with Grigorieva.
Prosecutors charged Gibson after a lengthy investigation into a fight with his then-girlfriend at the actor’s Malibu home.
The complaint accuses Gibson of “wilfully and unlawfully” using force and violence against Grigorieva, a Russian musician.
In a separate decision, prosecutors said they found insufficient evidence to charge Grigorieva with trying to extort Gibson.
The actor made the allegation during custody negotiations with Grigorieva after their break-up last year.
The battery charge was another blow to Gibson’s reputation, which took a major hit after his 2006 arrest for drunken driving. A deputy’s report leaked to the celebrity website TMZ revealed the action star had used anti-Semitic and sexist slurs.
His conviction was later expunged. (ANI)
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Tags: action star, allegation, battery charge, blair berk, celebrity website, domestic violence, infant daughter, insufficient evidence, jail sentence, lengthy investigation, london march, malibu, mel gibson, oksana grigorieva, plea, pleading no contest, probation, prosecutors, russian musician, sexist slurs