Try downloading a trial version of ProSoft Data Recovery. Don't install all the modules, one of the less useful ones installed itself as a startup task and launched a spurious perl task that really ate up processor time... slowed the machine 30-50%. The Data Recovery and Back-up tasks work well and are worth buying after the trial if you can't get away with smacking the stuffing out of your brother to make sure it doesn't become a regular event.
ProSoft specifically disclaims the ability to recover OSX files that have been trashed and deleted -- OSX overwrites the drive sectors quite rapidly. Turn the drive off and don't use it until you are ready to attempt recovery. Te more you use the drive, the worse your chances get.
i tried recovering with that binary biz **** once but i never like USED IT becuase i know its just smart to keep it off till i find a ANSWER cause i wanna use the drive but i want the stuff back
thanks