stman
07-16-2010, 10:36 AM
From popeater.com
By Amber James Posted Jul 15th 2010
Mel Gibson's lawyers claim they have evidence that the explicit, racist tapes Oksana Grigorieva secretly recorded earlier this year were tampered with and edited, which would make them inadmissible in court. To date, five tapes of Gibson screaming threats and obscenities at his ex have been released by RadarOnline.
Arlo E. West, president and CEO of Creative Forensic Services, INC., and one of the nation's leading certified forensic audio and video experts, tells PopEater that the Gibson tapes are altered copies. West, who has listened to all of the tapes, says there are gaps and fading -- which are "red flags" that the recordings have been altered and therefore "cannot be considered accurate." He's also convinced Oksana had professional help to edit the tapes together from a string of conversations.
While there has been speculation about whether or not the tapes are real, RadarOnline is standing by its claims the tapes are authentic. "Numerous top experts who have analyzed tapes for the FBI and CIA, confirm the authenticity of the tapes, as does Oksana's lawyer. Mel can't deny that he said these hateful words, had these brutal arguments and made these threats. The focus remains squarely on these horrible things Mel said and the only question is when will he take accountability for his words and actions?" RadarOnline's David Perel told PopEater in a statement.
West believes these altered tapes will eventually be inadmissible in court. "There are redactions and missing pieces -- obviously things people didn't want others to hear," he analyzes. "It's possible Oksana was sitting in the editing room making sure certain things she said were not present."
He is hesitant to disclose if he thinks it is Gibson on the recording but notes that there is no accent in the tapes. "When I hear it, it sounds like Gibson. But this has clearly been edited. There is something missing ... Until an official analysis has been made, it's all just public perception and hearsay."
And the altered recording may explian why Grigorieva sounds so calm. "When a party knows they are being taped and taping the party who does not know they tend to be very calm and cool," he told HollywoodLife. "This is something I have heard many times when examining these types of recordings."
West also points out that it is a crime in California to intercept or eavesdrop upon any confidential communication, including a telephone call or wire communication, without the consent of all parties. But there are exceptions in "someone fears violence," Dan Abrams, the Chief Legal Analyst for NBC News said on 'The Today Show.'
According to California Recording Law, eavesdropping upon or recording a conversation, whether by telephone or face-to-face, when a person would reasonably expect their conversation to be confined to the parties present, carries the same penalty as intercepting telephone or wire communications. First offenses are punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 and imprisonment for no more than one year. Subsequent offenses carry a maximum fine of $10,000 and a jail sentence of up to one year. Intercepting, recording and disclosing information each carries a separate penalty.
The former couple's lawyers are set to appear in family court Thursday (July 15) in Los Angeles. Grigorieva's lawyers will ask a judge to strip the 'What Women Want' actor of custody of their 8-month-old daughter, Lucia.
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is investigating Gibson over an alleged domestic violence incident from earlier this year involving his ex-girlfriend. According to a news release, police have opened an inquiry into the alleged attack, which is dated Jan. 6, and are "currently gathering information regarding the allegations."
Grigorieva has already claimed the actor punched her in the face, knocking out her two front teeth, during an argument. Grigorieva also claims Gibson hit and bruised his baby daughter -- and there are photos to prove it. According to RadarOnline, the images allegedly show baby Lucia with a bruise on her chin and are part of her sealed declaration to the court.
On the tape, Grigorieva asks, "What kind of a man is that who would hit a woman when she is holding a child in her hands, hitting her twice in the face? What kind of a man is that?"
Gibson replies, "You know what? You f***ing deserved it."
Sources tell TMZ that incidents also occurred in February.
The pair broke up in April after dating for a little over a year. At the time, Grigorieva was quoted as saying, "We have split up, suddenly and recently ... Unfortunately, I cannot give you the reason. But you will find out everything quite soon."
The couple made their first public appearance only a few weeks after Gibson's wife of over 30 years, Robyn, filed for divorce. Gibson has seven children from that marriage. Grigorieva has a son, Alexander, from a previous relationship with actor Timothy Dalton.
/http://www.popeater.com/2010/07/15/mel-gibson-tapes/
By Amber James Posted Jul 15th 2010
Mel Gibson's lawyers claim they have evidence that the explicit, racist tapes Oksana Grigorieva secretly recorded earlier this year were tampered with and edited, which would make them inadmissible in court. To date, five tapes of Gibson screaming threats and obscenities at his ex have been released by RadarOnline.
Arlo E. West, president and CEO of Creative Forensic Services, INC., and one of the nation's leading certified forensic audio and video experts, tells PopEater that the Gibson tapes are altered copies. West, who has listened to all of the tapes, says there are gaps and fading -- which are "red flags" that the recordings have been altered and therefore "cannot be considered accurate." He's also convinced Oksana had professional help to edit the tapes together from a string of conversations.
While there has been speculation about whether or not the tapes are real, RadarOnline is standing by its claims the tapes are authentic. "Numerous top experts who have analyzed tapes for the FBI and CIA, confirm the authenticity of the tapes, as does Oksana's lawyer. Mel can't deny that he said these hateful words, had these brutal arguments and made these threats. The focus remains squarely on these horrible things Mel said and the only question is when will he take accountability for his words and actions?" RadarOnline's David Perel told PopEater in a statement.
West believes these altered tapes will eventually be inadmissible in court. "There are redactions and missing pieces -- obviously things people didn't want others to hear," he analyzes. "It's possible Oksana was sitting in the editing room making sure certain things she said were not present."
He is hesitant to disclose if he thinks it is Gibson on the recording but notes that there is no accent in the tapes. "When I hear it, it sounds like Gibson. But this has clearly been edited. There is something missing ... Until an official analysis has been made, it's all just public perception and hearsay."
And the altered recording may explian why Grigorieva sounds so calm. "When a party knows they are being taped and taping the party who does not know they tend to be very calm and cool," he told HollywoodLife. "This is something I have heard many times when examining these types of recordings."
West also points out that it is a crime in California to intercept or eavesdrop upon any confidential communication, including a telephone call or wire communication, without the consent of all parties. But there are exceptions in "someone fears violence," Dan Abrams, the Chief Legal Analyst for NBC News said on 'The Today Show.'
According to California Recording Law, eavesdropping upon or recording a conversation, whether by telephone or face-to-face, when a person would reasonably expect their conversation to be confined to the parties present, carries the same penalty as intercepting telephone or wire communications. First offenses are punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 and imprisonment for no more than one year. Subsequent offenses carry a maximum fine of $10,000 and a jail sentence of up to one year. Intercepting, recording and disclosing information each carries a separate penalty.
The former couple's lawyers are set to appear in family court Thursday (July 15) in Los Angeles. Grigorieva's lawyers will ask a judge to strip the 'What Women Want' actor of custody of their 8-month-old daughter, Lucia.
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is investigating Gibson over an alleged domestic violence incident from earlier this year involving his ex-girlfriend. According to a news release, police have opened an inquiry into the alleged attack, which is dated Jan. 6, and are "currently gathering information regarding the allegations."
Grigorieva has already claimed the actor punched her in the face, knocking out her two front teeth, during an argument. Grigorieva also claims Gibson hit and bruised his baby daughter -- and there are photos to prove it. According to RadarOnline, the images allegedly show baby Lucia with a bruise on her chin and are part of her sealed declaration to the court.
On the tape, Grigorieva asks, "What kind of a man is that who would hit a woman when she is holding a child in her hands, hitting her twice in the face? What kind of a man is that?"
Gibson replies, "You know what? You f***ing deserved it."
Sources tell TMZ that incidents also occurred in February.
The pair broke up in April after dating for a little over a year. At the time, Grigorieva was quoted as saying, "We have split up, suddenly and recently ... Unfortunately, I cannot give you the reason. But you will find out everything quite soon."
The couple made their first public appearance only a few weeks after Gibson's wife of over 30 years, Robyn, filed for divorce. Gibson has seven children from that marriage. Grigorieva has a son, Alexander, from a previous relationship with actor Timothy Dalton.
/http://www.popeater.com/2010/07/15/mel-gibson-tapes/