In 1977 Roman Polanski the film director admitted having sex with Samantha Geimer who at the time was 13 years old. He was bailed pending sentence.
In 1978 he fled to britain and then to France when an arrest warrant was issued for him in the USA. France's extradition treaties with the US do not cover this particular situation.
He lived in france since then, but went to Switzerland last week for a film award. He was arrested there and faces extradition to the USA.
For some reason I fail to understand, half the film industry and half the French government seems to be up in arms that the yanks want to put him in prison !!
OK so he's since paid the girl off and she's dropped the charges, but he'd already admitted the offence and been convicted.
So what am I missing?? -- seems to me that he's no better than Paul Gadd (aka Gary Glitter) and as the dad of a 13 year old girl I certainly wouldn't want him within 100 miles of my daughter!
ties well in with other thread about the register....now then who would want Roman Polanski as a child minder ?? may of been 1978 but would you want your kids being looked after by him...NO.
He should be on child offenders register as a minimum, so that he is not allowed unsupervised time with kids.
cut his balls off and put them in trys somosa's for next social i say!!
Whilst not wanting to appear an apologist for there are as I understand extenuating circumstances......
As far as I'm aware no-one involved in the case including the girl has ever said that Polanski was aware of the girls true age .... yes she was young but he as far as we can tell believed her to be of age.
Polanski dropped his defence and entered a guilty plea after being told he would serve a short time in jail,on learning this was not the case and he would receive a far more substantial sentence he fled the country,rash but understandable.
It could also be argued that Polanski's state of mind at the time left him not entirely responsible for his actions ....the brutal murder of his wife had left him in a state of mental turmoil.
As I said I have no wish to seem an apologist for but nor would I like to see Polanski tarred with the same brush as Gary Glitter.
This is my understanding of the case I have done no research so am prepared to be corrected on the facts.
After further reading it would seem my first point at least is wrong
He took advantage of a child,wether he knew she was under age or not,he plied her with drink and drugs whilst staying at Jack Nicholsons house and her...then like a coward he fucked off out of the country when he realised the judge was going to give him a steeper sentence...the man is a low life and should be sent back to the US to serve out his sentence.
Even if you forget about the age issues, the guy, on the pretext of doing a photo shoot of the girl drinking champagne had laced the champagne with a sedative, and proceded to her after it had taken effect. He plea-bargained the down to unlawful intercourse, but as far as I can see he is just another sexual predator and should be locked up for the .
