Gibson's ex-girlfriend in court for custody hearing

Mel Gibson's ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva appeared in a closed court hearing in Los Angeles involving custody issues with their young daughter.

Grigorieva did not speak to reporters when she arrived at the court yesterday. She was accompanied by one of her lawyers during breaks in the session.

Gibson did not appear at the hearing, which was closed to the public by law.

A summary posted outside the courtroom indicated lawyers would argue a motion on whether to seize the passport of the nine-month-old girl.

Gibson and Grigorieva reached a confidential custody agreement months ago, but repeated hearings have been held since then concerning the case.

Lawyers on both sides have declined to comment.

The proceedings have been closely monitored by courthouse officials. Yesterday, a paparazzo and a reporter for the celebrity website RadarOnline.com were escorted from the building after taking photos in the hallway, against court rules.

RadarOnline posted two images of Grigorieva, including one showing her walking in a hallway with her lawyer. The images were later removed from the website.

The hearing came as sheriff's detectives were winding down their investigation into allegations that Gibson, 54, harmed Grigorieva during an argument in January. The agency was also looking into claims by the actor-director that Grigorieva attempted to extort him.

Detectives have attended one hearing in the case and were given copies of recordings filed with the court.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore has said the results of the investigation could be given to prosecutors by the end of the week.