Mel Gibson's rants may not be used in custody case
(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - An attorney for Mel Gibson's ex-girlfriend told a judge he may not introduce a series of taped racist and sexist rants by the Oscar-winner during the couple's bitter custody dispute.
The move comes a week after lawyers for Oksana Grigorieva said the Russian musician was dropping her claims that Gibson physically abused her for the purposes of their custody case.
She and Gibson have a daughter, Lucia, who was born on Oct. 30, 2009.
Attorney Daniel Horowitz said Thursday that the recordings were more relevant for a domestic violence restraining order, which Grigorieva is no longer seeking.
A Los Angeles judge agreed to temporarily halt the case so Grigorieva's attorneys can appeal a ruling allowing Gibson's attorneys to remain on the case. Grigorieva asked to disqualify them because she had consulted with a partner of one of the actor-director's family law attorneys.
In March, Gibson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor spousal battery charge, after he was accused of striking Gregorieva during a fight in January 2010. He was sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to attend 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling.