Mel Gibson will not be facing charges from the Australian police vis-à-vis an allegation that the actor/director shoved and yelled at a photographer who was taking photos of him and his new girlfriend in Sydney last month, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Kristi Miller, a photographer for Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph, filed a complaint with the police regarding the incident, which took place on Aug. 23 while the Oscar-winning director and his girlfriend were leaving an Israeli Film Festival screening of "Matti Caspi - Confession" at the Palace Verona Cinemas in inner-suburban Paddington, according to The Associated Press.
Gibson's Sydney lawyer, Chris Murphy, said on Thursday afternoon he had been advised by police that no action would be taken against his client.
"Police have completed a thorough investigation of allegations made by a Sydney photographer and have concluded there is no evidence to substantiate any charge against my client Mel Gibson," Murphy said, according to USA Today.
"Mr. Gibson was described by others as cool and calm throughout his conversation with Kristi Miller," Murphy added. "She is the only person who says he wasn't. The witnesses deny there was any contact or loud voice or obscene language from Mr. Gibson."
"Mel Gibson has totally denied from the onset that these disgraceful allegations were true. He is now satisfied that the police, after speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage and other evidence, have found there is no substance to the claim. The story is a complete fabrication of the truth as stated previously," said Gibson's Los Angeles-based publicist Alan Nierob, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Miller had accused Gibson of shoving her in the back just as she turned away after taking his photo. She said she was abused until his girlfriend intervened by grabbing his shoulder.
Gibson, who has had anger management issues in the past, in currently in Sydney to direct a World War II drama titled "Hacksaw Ridge," starring Andrew Garfield and Vince Vaughn.
