Mel Gibson set to plead 'no contest' to battery of Oksana Grigorieva in Los Angeles court today

Mel Gibson set to plead 'no contest' to battery of Oksana Grigorieva in Los Angeles court today

 

• Charges come three days after extortion case against Oksana was dropped

Mel Gibson has been officially charged with the battery of his former partner Oksana Grigorieva.

The Australian actor, 55, is expected to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom today to plead no contest to the charge after striking a plea deal over an alleged domestic violence incident involving the Russian-born musician.

The district attorney's office is expected to give the Hollywood actor probation rather than jail time in exchange for avoiding a costly trial.

No time: Mel Gibson is expected to plead 'no contest' to a charge of simple battery of former partner Oksana Grigorieva in a Los Angeles court today

Gibson struck the agreement with Los Angeles prosecutors in the criminal case that has been looming for months.

The charge states: 'On or about January 6, 2010, in the County of Los Angeles, the crime of battery... a misdemeanor, was committed by Mel Gibson , who did wilfully and unlawfully use force and violence upon the person of Oksana G, childn's parent.'

Simple battery is a misdemeanor, a lower crime than the felony charge of domestic violence.

During the row last year, Grigorieva claims that she suffered a concussion and two broken veneers on her teeth.

During the pair's custody case Gibson has admitted: 'I slapped Oksana one time with an open hand in an attempt to bring her back to reality.

'I did not slap her hard, I was just trying to shock her so that she would stop screaming, continuing shaking Lucia back and forth.'

Allegations: Grigorieva claims that she suffered a concussion and two broken veneers on her teeth as a result of Gibson’s violence against her

Grigorieva did not report the incident until months later, after the pair had already broke up and had negotiated a custody agreement over Lucia.

The way they were: Mel and Oksana were together for just one year

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

Gibson's lawyer, Blair Berk, said: '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.

'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.'

Gibson's plea deal comes as the extortion investigation against Grigorieva was officially dismissed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office earlier this week.

It emerged on Wednesday that no charges will be filed against the 44-year-old, who had been accused of trying to extort money from Gibson.

A spokesman for Oksana said: 'Ms Grigorieva will now concentrate on co-parenting Lucia, resuming her charitable work for the children of Chernobyl and moving forward with her life.'

Following the alleged domestic violence incident several photos surfaced that appeared to show Grigorieva's injured face.

Several taped conversations reportedly between Gibson and Grigorieva also leaked to the press.

Lawyers for Gibson have claimed that Grigorieva used the leaked tapes of them rowing as 'leverage' when negotiating a a child care settlement last year.

It came after the former couple struck a deal during a child custody mediation hearing in May.

Grigorieva signed a deal that awarded her $15 million in child support, a house and other assets.

According to reports, the cash settlement came with a promise that all 'evidence' - namely the voice recordings of Gibson's foul-mouthed rants - relating to the case remained confidential.

Grigorieva later rejected the deal and the tapes were then sensationally made public. Gibson's camp blamed Oksana.

Gibson separated from his first wife Robyn Denise Moore in August 2006 after being married for 26 years. The couple have one daughter, six sons, and two grandchildren.

Gibson's new film The Beaver is due to premiere at this weekend's South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

It is only the second major film Gibson has starred in since 2002.

He portrays a deeply troubled man able to communicate only through a beaver puppet in the film directed by Jodie Foster.