Mel's Drunken Night Out

[~Tarryn~]

Gibson avoids media in drink-drive case

Friday Aug 18



It could be one of Mel Gibson's craftiest performances.



The Braveheart star avoided jail, a media circus and a forced visit to a morgue when his lawyers fast-tracked his drink-driving case with little fanfare in a Malibu courthouse on Thursday.



Gibson also enjoyed a bit of luck.



His sentencing came on the same day Hollywood gossip tabloids discovered new, juicier prey - the once squeaky-clean child star Hayley Joel Osment, who was charged with drunken driving and marijuana possession.



Malibu Superior Court Judge Lawrence Mira sentenced Gibson to three years" probation and a heavy dose of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, although Gibson was not in court to hear his punishment.



The 50-year-old Oscar winner did not have to appear in person, so opted to stay away and leave it to his lawyers.



Prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office struck a plea deal with Gibson's legal team and agreed to drop two of the three charges originally slapped on the actor.



Gibson agreed to enter a "no contest" plea to the misdemeanour driving under the influence charge of having a 0.08 per cent or higher blood alcohol reading.



"This was an appropriate outcome which addresses all the public safety concerns of drinking and driving," Deputy District Attorney Gina Satriano said.



The sentencing surprised the media, as Gibson's case was set for September 28.



In contrast to the media storm that followed Gibson's July 28 arrest and the controversy over his anti-Semitic tirade to his arresting officer, Thursday's brief sentencing occurred in a near-empty courtroom.



It was not until the LA County District Attorney's office disseminated a press release after the sentencing that news broke that Gibson's case had been finalised.



Gibson may find it difficult to make movies over the next 12 months.



Judge Mira ordered him to attend 12 months of AA meetings. For the first four and a half months, he must attend AA meetings five times a week and for the remaining seven and a half months, he is ordered to attend three AA meetings a week.



Gibson also must enter into an alcohol abuse program for three months and had his driver's licence restricted for 90 days.



Gibson avoided some of California's shock punishments for drink driving offenders, including the Hospital and Morgue program (HAM).



Under the program, drink drivers have to visit a hospital to view patients injured in alcohol-related crashes. The drink drivers are then taken to a morgue to view the deceased victims of alcohol-related accidents.



Gibson was hit with $US1,300 ($A1,700) in fines by Judge Mira.



That will not be a problem for the Australian-raised star, as he reportedly pocketed $US300 million after financing and directing his controversial 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ.



Gibson was arrested just after 2am on July 28 on the Pacific Coast Highway near his Malibu home after an LA County Sheriff observed him driving at 140kph, almost double the 72kph speed limit.



Gibson had been partying at Malibu restaurant, Moonshadows.



He recorded a 0.12 blood alcohol reading, exceeding California's 0.08 limit.



What are your thoughts on this?

[emily]

i think being famous just really gets to them, its not like him to be like this.

maybe he just has some troubles we dont no about

[Slider]

Mel Gibson's Number 1 fan right here!wave01

[Katie]

I eat surgar tits every morning for breakfast. They're way better than frosted flakes.

[BoYkA]

I eat surgar tits every morning for breakfast. They're way better than frosted flakes.

wow so do i NOT!!! gif001

[Jodelle-Ferland]

I eat surgar tits every morning for breakfast. They're way better than frosted flakes.

i smell a looser laugh!!

[Katie]

I don't smell anything. My nose is stuffy and I have a cold =(

[fool]

Mel's a good old aussie hero, loved all the mad max's.

[Slider]

Mel's a good old aussie hero, loved all the mad max's.

He's American!! Australia will do anything to lay claim to someone!rolledeyes

[fool]

i think we have all got drunk once in our life and acted the goat laugh001