29-09-2009, 09:21 AM
3
Re: Roman Polanski
Isn't it odd that the US authorities have 'nabbed him' after all this time? I wonder what lies behind it?I don't know what good can come of anything after all this time (and the victim has said she would prefer the issue to be dropped) but grown men should not inveigle(?sp) 13 year old girls into drink and sex and get away with it.
So, I'm in two minds but tend to the view that the child protection agencies would spend their time better looking after today's children. Maybe Polanski should just be made to hand over a pile of cash to charities helping abused kids?
29-09-2009, 09:57 PM
5
Re: Roman Polanski
Granted: he is talented, had a miserable childhood, lost a wife in a horrible murder, and is in his 70s. But...he admitted it, fled justice when the plea bargain to allow for the 42 days served (42 days for raping a 13 year old child!!
)fell thru. A fugitive has to know sometime he will be caught. I have no sympathy whatsoever for him.
28-02-2010, 05:48 PM
6
Re: Roman Polanski
Just been looking up this story, . . this is the update.On March 11, 1977, Polanski was arrested for the sexual assault of a thirteen-year-old, Samantha Geimer, that occurred the day before at the Hollywood home of actor Jack Nicholson.[44][53] The girl testified that Polanski gave her both champagne and Quaalude, a sedative drug, and despite repeated protests and being asked to stop, he performed oral sex, intercourse and sodomy upon her.[54][55][56][57] A grand jury charged him with rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under fourteen, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.[58] At his arraignment Polanski pleaded not guilty to all charges.[59]
In an effort to preserve her anonymity, Geimer's attorney arranged a plea bargain which Polanski accepted, and, under the terms, five of the initial charges were to be dismissed.[60] He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of engaging in unlawful intercourse with a minor, a charge which is synonymous under Californian law with statutory rape.[60][61] The judge received a probation report and psychiatric evaluation, both indicating that Polanski should not serve jail time,[62] in response the film maker was ordered to a 90 day psychiatric evaluation at the Chino state prison.[63] On January 28, 1978 Polanski was released after 42 days.[64] Despite expectations and recommendations that he would receive only probation at sentencing, the judge "suggested to Polanski's attorneys" that more jail time and possible deportation were in order.[61][65] Upon learning of the judge's plans Polanski fled to France on February 1, 1978, hours before he was to be formally sentenced.[58] As a French citizen, he has been protected from extradition and has mostly lived in France, avoiding countries likely to extradite him.[66] Because he fled prior to sentencing, all six of the original charges remain pending.[67]
Geimer sued Polanski in 1988, alleging sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and seduction. In 1993 Polanski agreed to pay her at least $500,000 as part of a civil settlement. Geimer and her lawyers confirmed the settlement was complete.[68][69]
In 1997, Geimer publicly forgave Polanski and filed a formal request with the Los Angeles Police Department to drop charges against him. In 2003 she wrote an Op Ed piece in the Los Angeles Times advocating for him to be allowed to return to the US to accept an Academy Award.[70]
On September 26, 2009, Polanski was taken into custody at the Zurich airport by Swiss police at the request of U.S. authorities, for a 2005 international arrest warrant, as he traveled to accept a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival.[71][72] After initially being jailed, on December 4 Polanski was granted house arrest at his Gstaad residence on $US 4.5 M bail, while awaiting decision of appeals fighting extradition.[73][74]
On January 22, 2010, California Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza ruled that Polanski must return to be sentenced.
28-02-2010, 10:52 PM
8
Re: Roman Polanski
Originally Posted by dandysmom
->
Granted: he is talented, had a miserable childhood, lost a wife in a horrible murder, and is in his 70s. But...he admitted it, fled justice when the plea bargain to allow for the 42 days served (42 days for raping a 13 year old child!! )fell thru. A fugitive has to know sometime he will be caught. I have no sympathy whatsoever for him.
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