Source: Gibson's ex drops violence claims in court

[May 05, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A source says Mel Gibson's former girlfriend has told a judge hearing the couple's child custody dispute that she is dropping allegations that the Oscar-winner struck her during a fight last year.

The source who is familiar with the case says Oksana Grigorieva (gree-GOR'-yeh-vuh) told a family law judge Wednesday that she was withdrawing all domestic violence allegations against Gibson from the case. Most of the case is sealed and the source spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the dispute.

The move doesn't affect a misdemeanor battery case in which the actor-director pleaded no contest in March. His plea didn't include an admission of guilt and cannot be used against him in a civil lawsuit. He remains on probation and is undergoing domestic violence counseling.

Gibson's attorney, Stephen Kolodny, declined comment.

[Associated Press; By ANTHONY McCARTNEY]

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