Swiss arrest Polanski in 1977 sex case

[mawilson 2,133]

Somehow I doubt that, if he drugged her how could it be consensual. Besides, her age alone makes it a felony. Haven't you read the news lately?

Perhaps - we'll see, won't we?

Besides, her age alone makes it a felony.

Now that's just legal BS.

[KarenCee 3]

LOL...BS or not dude, it IS the law here in the STATES. I for one am glad there IS a law.

[Amby 490]

Yeah, I read that. I would have thought there was a statute of limitations on something like this?

I thought that too. I just did a quick google search for the statute on rape and it looks like some states have removed it for that, but not other sex crimes. So I'm not sure. It's interesting this happened now since it's been so long.

PS. Mark there is not statute of limitations for rape in NY. I just saw that when I googled.

Edited September 27, 2009 by Amby

[SuperDuper! 230]

42 days for " ....plying a 13 year old girl with champagne and part of a Quaalude pill and, despite her protests, performing oral sex, intercourse, and sodomy on her." Are you KIDDING me??? He needs to be extradited.

You failed to mention the the victim has wanted the charges against him dropped for years. Serious charges I agree. Polanski has already had a life of tragedy: His mother slaughtered at Auschwitz by the Nazis, then his wife actress Sharon Tate (8 months preggy) is brutally murdered by the crazed Manson followers. Odd how some people's life is set on a path of fame and misfortune. Guess we need to kick the guy around some more till he kicks the bucket.

[zqt3344 21]

The LA prosecutor at the time and Polanski lawyer had worked out a deal or plea bargain back in late 70s, thus he went to jail for 42 days in meantime while they deal to plea bargain and plead guilty to one count was arrived at, and he got credit for time served on those 42 days, then while he was out of jail on bail, this dishonest corrupt LA judge that originally gave the ok and agreed to the terms of the plea deal that they LA prosecutor and the attorney for Polanski arrived at decides to change his mind and renege on the deal, totally unethical and wrong. Thus Polanski fled the USA. As a side note, he paid restitution to the victim who has forgiven him and asked that he not be charged and left alone once and for all.

Associated Press

ZURICH - Director Roman Polanski was arrested by Swiss police as he flew in for the Zurich Film Festival and faces possible extradition to the United States for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl, authorities said Sunday.

Polanski was scheduled to receive an honorary award at the festival when he was apprehended Saturday at the airport, the Swiss Justice Ministry said in a statement. It said U.S. authorities have sought the arrest of the 76-year-old director around the world since 2005.

"There was a valid arrest request and we knew when he was coming," ministry spokesman Guido Balmer told The Associated Press. "That's why he was taken into custody."

Balmer said the U.S. would now have to make a formal extradition request.

Polanski fled the U.S. in 1978, a year after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with the underage girl. The director of such classic films as "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" has asked a U.S. appeals court in California to overturn a judges' refusal to throw out his case. He claims misconduct by the now-deceased judge who had arranged a plea bargain and then reneged on it.

The Swiss statement said Polanski was in "provisional detention for extradition," but added he would not be transferred to U.S. authorities until all proceedings are completed. Polanski can contest his detention and any extradition decision in the Swiss courts, it said.

Polanski has lived for the past three decades in France, where his career has continued to flourish, and he received a directing Oscar in absentia for the 2002 movie "The Pianist."

Polanski has not been extradited from France because his crime reportedly was not covered under treaties between the United States and France.

He has avoided traveling to countries likely to extradite him. For instance, he testified by video link from Paris in a 2005 libel trial in London against Vanity Fair magazine because he did not want to enter Britain for fear of being arrested.

In Paris, Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said he was "dumbfounded" by Polanski's arrest, adding that he "strongly regrets that a new ordeal is being inflicted on someone who has already experienced so many of them."

Those comments referred to the fact that Polanski, a native of France who was taken to Poland by his parents, escaped Krakow's Jewish ghetto as a child and lived off the charity of strangers. His mother died at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp.

Mitterrand's ministry said Sunday that he was in contact with French President Nicolas Sarkozy "who is following the case with great attention and shares the minister's hope that the situation can be quickly resolved."

Polanski worked his way into filmmaking in Poland, gaining an Oscar nomination for best foreign-language film in 1964 for his "Knife in the Water." Offered entry to Hollywood, he directed the classic "Rosemary's Baby" in 1968.

But his life was shattered again in 1969 when his wife, actress Sharon Tate, and four other people were gruesomely murdered by followers of Charles Manson. She was eight months pregnant.

He went on to make another American classic, "Chinatown," released in 1974.

In 1977, he was accused of raping the teenager while photographing her during a modeling session. The girl said Polanski plied her with champagne and part of a Quaalude pill at Jack Nicholson's house while the actor was away. She said that, despite her protests, he performed oral sex, intercourse and sodomy on her.

Polanski was allowed to plead guilty to one of six charges, unlawful sexual intercourse, and was sent to prison for 42 days of evaluation.

Lawyers agreed that would be his full sentence, but the judge tried to renege on the plea bargain. Aware the judge would sentence him to more prison time and require his voluntary deportation, Polanski fled to France.

The victim, Samantha Geimer, who long ago identified herself publicly, has joined in Polanski's bid for dismissal, saying she wants the case to be over. She sued Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement.

Zurich Film Festival organizers said Polanski's detention had caused "shock and dismay," but said they would go ahead with Sunday's planned retrospective of the director's work.

The Swiss Directors Association sharply criticized authorities for what it deemed "not only a grotesque farce of justice, but also an immense cultural scandal."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/200...27polanski.html

[Chica Yeyé 41]

well, he'll have to answer according to what the laws and penalties were in 1977.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

well, he'll have to answer according to what the laws and penalties were in 1977.

I guess according to some here it was ok to rape a 13 year old. He should pay for his crime.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

well, he'll have to answer according to what the laws and penalties were in 1977.

I guess according to some here it was ok to rape a 13 year old. He should pay for his crime.

Drugged and sodomized too.

[SMR 368]

I don't understand how the man got away with just a charge of intercourse with a minor. It's not only statutory rape, she objected in spite of the fact that she was drugged. That makes it full rape. That isn't legal BS.

Also, I don't think a statute of limitations applies since he was convicted but didn't face sentencing. But I'm not a lawyer, so I couldn't be sure.

[KarenCee 3]

I don't understand how the man got away with just a charge of intercourse with a minor. It's not only statutory rape, she objected in spite of the fact that she was drugged. That makes it full rape. That isn't legal BS.

Also, I don't think a statute of limitations applies since he was convicted but didn't face sentencing. But I'm not a lawyer, so I couldn't be sure.

That's what I'm hoping for. I don't care what has happened in his life...the man drugged that child and had sex with her. He skipped the country before he could be sentenced. I have no sympathy, not that my feelings in the matter are important.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I don't understand how the man got away with just a charge of intercourse with a minor. It's not only statutory rape, she objected in spite of the fact that she was drugged. That makes it full rape. That isn't legal BS.

Also, I don't think a statute of limitations applies since he was convicted but didn't face sentencing. But I'm not a lawyer, so I couldn't be sure.

That's what I'm hoping for. I don't care what has happened in his life...the man drugged that child and had sex with her. He skipped the country before he could be sentenced. I have no sympathy, not that my feelings in the matter are important.

[mawilson 2,133]

well, he'll have to answer according to what the laws and penalties were in 1977.

I guess according to some here it was ok to rape a 13 year old. He should pay for his crime.

Rape? No.

Consensual sex? Depends... some 13 year-olds are more mature than 20-year-olds.

[EasternDE 35]

Just for the info, the girl was 14 and spending the evening at Jack Nicholson's party...

Now I'm wondering what a 14 years old is doing at an actor's party on a schoolday...?

It doesn't excuse anything, but I think it's an important fact still.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Just for the info, the girl was 14 and spending the evening at Jack Nicholson's party...

Now I'm wondering what a 14 years old is doing at an actor's party on a schoolday...?

It doesn't excuse anything, but I think it's an important fact still.

It has absolutely no bearing in the case.

[KarenCee 3]

True...wonder what the parents were doing...or thinking.

14 is still underage though...and Polanski should have known better.