Thaindian News

London, March 10 (ANI): Mel Gibson, who is accused of domestic violence against his former girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, is expected to avoid jail after striking a plea deal in the case.

The Australian actor, 55, has thrashed out an agreement with Los Angeles prosecutors and has made a plea deal in the looming criminal case, according to U.S. reports.

Gibson is expected to appear in court on Friday and plead no contest to simple battery - a lower charge than “corporal injury on a spouse” which commentators had speculated the actor would be charged with.

Gibson has not yet been formally charged with any wrongdoing in relation to his alleged January 6, 2010 row with Grigorieva.

According to sources close to Gibson, the actor accepted a plea deal to avoid a prolonged court fight that would be a strain on his family, particularly his children.

“I know from almost 20 years as a criminal defence lawyer that sometimes justice can come for a client at too high a personal price,” the Daily Mail quoted Gibson’s lawyer, Blair Berk, as saying.

‘That is particularly so for Mel, whose right to due process can only be exercised in this case with an enormous media circus attached.”

“Mel’s priority throughout all of this has been that the best interests of his young daughter Lucia and the rest of his children be put first in any decisions made.

“It is with only that in mind that he asked me to approach the District Attorney with a proposal that would bring all of this to an immediate end,” Berk added. (ANI)