Roman
Polanski wants 1977 rape case over, attorney tells L.A
judge
Send a link to a friend
[March 21, 2017]
By Dana Feldman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -
Fugitive movie director Roman Polanski will have to wait
up to three months to hear whether he can resolve his
four-decade-old rape case without serving more jail time
in the United States.
|
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon on Monday heard
arguments from prosecutors and Polanski's lawyer on the latest
bid to end the case, but said he would reserve making any
decision for up to 90 days.
Attorney Harland Braun asked Gordon to rule that Polanski
fulfilled his time behind bars in 1977, when he served 42 days
ahead of sentencing for the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
With that assurance, the "Rosemary's Baby" director would fly
from Paris immediately to the United States for sentencing,
Braun said.
The case of French-Polish Polanski has been a cause celebre for
40 years. Following his guilty plea in 1977 and time in jail, he
fled the United States, fearing a plea bargain with authorities
at that time would be overruled and that he would get a lengthy
jail term.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/26/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
"He knows what he was promised in the sentencing. He knows the
time he's done. He's not trying to bargain," Braun told Monday's
hearing.
"Mr. Polanski is 83 and just wants to settle this case, wants it
over with. The crime that he committed is indefensible. He's
never tried to deny it," he added.
Los Angeles prosecutors, however, said Polanski was asking for
special treatment and there should be no discussion on what
sentence he would get until he returns to the United States.
[to top of second column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Mar/21/images/ads/current/castlemanor_lda_051916.png)
"This case is 40 years old because the defendant fled. Not only did
he flee, he's fought all efforts to get him to return. (We) simply
don't believe it's in the best interest to give a wealthy celebrity
any different treatment than any other fugitive," said Deputy
District Attorney Michele Hanisee.
Polanski was arrested on U.S. warrants in Poland and Switzerland in
the last decade, but both countries declined to extradite him.
Samantha Geimer, the victim in the case, has long made clear she
believes Polanski's self-imposed exile has been punishment enough.
Braun has said Polanski wants to be able to travel freely and to be
able to visit the grave in the United States of his wife, Sharon
Tate, who was murdered in Los Angeles by followers of Charles Manson
in 1969.
Polanski's career has flourished despite the rape case. In 2003, he
won an Oscar for directing the Holocaust film "The Pianist" but did
not travel to the United States to collect it.
(Writing by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra Maler)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |