Mel Gibson Faces Assault Charges as Photo Evidence Surfaces

Just when you thought it couldn’t get more bleak for the beleaguered Hollywood A-lister, Mel Gibson is taking another hit… for allegedly hitting his ex-girlfriend, Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva. A photo has surfaced on the Internet of Grigorieva with a bruised left eye.

The photo, which was obtained exclusively by RadarOnline.com, is the evidence of what Grigorieva claims is physical abuse at the hands of Gibson. According to RadarOnline, the photographs that they obtained were taken the morning after a brutal confrontation between the couple on January 6, 2010.

Gibson denies physically assaulting Oksana, and his lawyers have told police that she has tried to extort him. He claims that the physical confrontation with his ex was due to her shaking their nine-month-old daughter Lucia “like a ragdoll.”

A spokesman for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has said that Gibson has met with detectives to discuss his charges of extortion against Oksana.

According to TMZ, Gibson also alleges that Oksana threatened to leak recordings of him to the press if he didn’t give her money. He reportedly presented authorities with e-mails and text messages to back his claims.

If you have been the victim of a domestic violence or are in any other major dispute with a spouse, it is best to consult with a family lawyer to discuss your legal options.