Mel Gibson Tapes Have Been Edited, Expert Says

By Amber James Posted Jul 15th 2010 03:25PM

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.

Hear the full tape (at your peril) at RadarOnline.com.

► Mel Gibson Roars Oral Sex Demands in Newest Tape
► Third Tape Released: Mel Gibson Throws Racial Slurs, Tells Ex 'I Own You'
► Second Mel Gibson Phone Call Released, More Racist Rants Ensue
► Phone Call Rant From Mel Gibson to Oksana Grigorieva Leaked; Talent Agency Drops Him

Can Mel Gibson recover from this? Tell us on Facebook.

Tags: mel gibson, oksana grigorieva

Comments

(253)

Thursday 15 July

By barbara teti

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Has everyone gone crazy or is her voice on those tapes so calm. I am
sorry, but if my man goes crazy on me on the phone I and
everyother women would fight back. She stays calm on the phone. She
is nasty and a women that has no self respect for herself. What a
poor excuse to even call her a women. Everything that Mel says she is is the truth. She acts and is like that. Women like this ruin for the rest of us good women that do not do this to their man. I hope that she gets no money from this at all. For the people that are putting these tapes out their I hope that you did not pay her for this garbage. Why should we reward anyone like this or make her famous. Go back to where you came from.

By lu

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Altered or not.... This animal smacked a woman with a baby in her arms....That alone tells a lot about this animal....

Really were you there when he did that to her. Stop believing what you here unless you see it with your own eyes

By Talamox Smith

Vote down Vote up Report this

Damn he looks old. He's got alcoholic eyes and wrinkles all over.

By Wolfman

More jungle fever and trophy wives

By jinxminxi

Mel Gibson is an idiot.

By Sandy

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Mel Gibson set up? I hardly think so. He's already proven in the past that he's racist in more ways than one. His track record for the past few years proves itself. He's controlling & he's a bully - and he's an abuser. But why should we really care what these people do? It's being almost voyeuristic - how creepy is that? He's a little fish in a very BIG pond!

By JOEY

Took em long enough to claim that they're fake. If they are fake you'd think they would have been shouting that from day one.

By marihottie

I believe she said something to make him say those things on the tapes, we are not really hearing her part and what they do put her voice she has an accent in one and in some she don't and i don't think that he will go crazy on her if she didn't say something to edge him on. She provoked him into this situation.

By brandierenae

The tapes sounded altered to me from the get go. what he says is clearly problematic, but she's *far* too calm in the recording.

By Patty

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Another old geezer taken in by a young gold digger.
Oksana didn't waste anytime getting preggers either; that was an easy way to make millions.

By bren

Mel did not hit that baby i dont believe it for one minute,babies fall all the time ! My son kept bruises all over his forhead from hitting the coffee table it looked awful!This lady is up to something you can bet! Who tapes a telephone call? She knew what she was trying to do ,did it i hope she gets caught! Mell is stupid for leaving his wife who is now standing behind him! I bet he wishes hed never layed eyes on the young thing! lol

By alaenart

poor guy she wants him to go DOWN so BAD. WHY SHE'S SO CALM?

By Draconian

Easy Mel, don't follow in the footsteps of OJ. You might not have His "luck" in a murder trial.

By privatecitizenwolfysmom

You can no longer say what he said or did not say. What if the edited portion says, "you expect everybody to believe I would say...." (fill in the blank)

She is gross. I hope she does not get away with this.

By denise

I know how the system works, if the woman says he's abusive, he is sentenced without question, real proof or even evidence.It's all about attorneys, judges and ex's getting some of that Mel money. I think he's being set up and there is more to this story than what we really know about.

By mvrav

he definitely was set up. she knew he has a bad temper, so before each taping she knew exactly wat to say to set him off.

By strangedc

Isn't it funny that you never heard a bad word about Mel, his family/wife/career...until that mid life crisis hit. Then what? He is sniffing around behind some CHILD half dressed, and then is surprised that as his wife she is exactly what attracted him to start with, a half dressed chick half his age (now with child support to boot)??? I really like Mel Gibson, but sometimes you have to learn your lessons the hard way. Is she a gold digger...well, yeah.. Did she bait him into this taped call..well, yeah...hello. Divorce her, dummy, give her the money, and move on. That's what you get for acting like a 15 year old male in heat. Lesson learned (we can only hope).

By K

Those were not messed with, the conversation flows, that is just a way of trying to get out of it. He threatned her and now he is running scared. He has a serious problem. He should not have gotten involved with her and had another kid. And how can he be broke? He needs professional help, and fast. I wouldnt let him near the child.

Friday 16 July

By Nick

I'm sorry, are you an expert? No you're not, a expert was quoted in this article saying they were edited. So I think they know more than you. She hired a good editor, she probably didn't even have to hire the editor they probably paid her. There is a 'flow' so that means it wasn't edited? HAve you ever watched a movie? in most movies there is a flow and guess what, they are edited like crazy!!!!! The job of a good editor is to create a 'flow'. I am laughing because that is just absurd that because the audio has a 'flow' it means it wasn't edited? lol DO you listen to music, do you think most of it has a flow? lol Most music is recorded in parts then put together. If you actually new anything about media production you would know just how EASY it is!!! lol

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