Poland rules out extraditing Polanski in child sex case

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Poland rules out extraditing Polanski in child sex case

Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski can breathe a sigh of relief – and start making a planned film in Poland.

Prosecutors say they won’t appeal after a Polish court earlier rejected US moves to have the 82-year-old extradited to the United States on a decades-old child sex conviction.

The United States had requested Polanski’s extradition from Poland after he made a high-profile appearance in Warsaw in 2014. The filmmaker lives in Paris but he also has an apartment in Krakow, southern Poland.

Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to having sex with a 13-year-old girl during a photo shoot in Los Angeles.

The film director served 42 days in jail after a plea bargain. He fled the United States the following year to Britain and then to France, believing the judge hearing his case could overrule the deal and put him in jail for years.

Samantha Geimer, the victim in the case, has made clear she believes Polanski’s long exile has been punishment enough.

“Speaking for Polanski, I can say that we feel a great relief that this case has ended,” Jan Olszewski, one of Polanski’s lawyers said.

“And this means that it will be possible for Polanski to start making a planned film in Poland.”

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-11-28

[BuaBS]

A lot of common sence out of Poland . Refugees or in this case absurd US demands.

[bangon04]

Difficult to feel any sympathy for the US, which makes it very very hard to extradite any US citizen to any other country.

[Yoram]

Let them go after Bill Cosby's home grown alleged rapist before trying to extradite others from elsewhere

[IAMHERE]

His lawyers, the state prosecutors office, and the judge all made a deal if Polanski would plead guilty. So Polanski plead out: then the judge under public pressure decided to vacate the deal and place Polanski in prison for a long stretch for public appearance sake. The case should be closed.

[Linky]

His lawyers, the state prosecutors office, and the judge all made a deal if Polanski would plead guilty. So Polanski plead out: then the judge under public pressure decided to vacate the deal and place Polanski in prison for a long stretch for public appearance sake. The case should be closed.

Exactly correct. The deal was done, he served his time.

[Baerboxer]

His lawyers, the state prosecutors office, and the judge all made a deal if Polanski would plead guilty. So Polanski plead out: then the judge under public pressure decided to vacate the deal and place Polanski in prison for a long stretch for public appearance sake. The case should be closed.

Exactly correct. The deal was done, he served his time.

42 days for sex with a minor?

Sure, sounds like the very rich and privileged Polansky really got punished,

Something wrong with the American justice system, and something wrong for thinking if someone can avoid punishment for so long that they can be simply allowed to forget it.

Crap sentences are why prosecutors get the right to appeal too.

Would you shrug it off it had been your 13 year old daughter? I'd want to castrate the b/stard.

[pacovl46]

His lawyers, the state prosecutors office, and the judge all made a deal if Polanski would plead guilty. So Polanski plead out: then the judge under public pressure decided to vacate the deal and place Polanski in prison for a long stretch for public appearance sake. The case should be closed.

Exactly correct. The deal was done, he served his time.

There shouldn't have been a deal in the first place because he drugged and raped a 13 year old girl! The fact that he ran away instead of facing the music speaks volumes about his character. The fact that he still gets work is an absolute disgrace!

[camble]

He's a great director but what he did was sick.

[losworld]

A lot of common sence out of Poland . Refugees or in this case absurd US demands.

You must be choking. The guy is a known sex offender and you want to keep him living in luxury?

Edited November 28, 2015 by losworld

[Linky]

His lawyers, the state prosecutors office, and the judge all made a deal if Polanski would plead guilty. So Polanski plead out: then the judge under public pressure decided to vacate the deal and place Polanski in prison for a long stretch for public appearance sake. The case should be closed.

Exactly correct. The deal was done, he served his time.

There shouldn't have been a deal in the first place because he drugged and raped a 13 year old girl! The fact that he ran away instead of facing the music speaks volumes about his character. The fact that he still gets work is an absolute disgrace!

Whether they should or shouodnt is not the point. They did. I dont blame him for leaving, they had an agreement and he fulfilled his part and did his time.

[Linky]

His lawyers, the state prosecutors office, and the judge all made a deal if Polanski would plead guilty. So Polanski plead out: then the judge under public pressure decided to vacate the deal and place Polanski in prison for a long stretch for public appearance sake. The case should be closed.

Exactly correct. The deal was done, he served his time.

42 days for sex with a minor?

Sure, sounds like the very rich and privileged Polansky really got punished,

Something wrong with the American justice system, and something wrong for thinking if someone can avoid punishment for so long that they can be simply allowed to forget it.

Crap sentences are why prosecutors get the right to appeal too.

Would you shrug it off it had been your 13 year old daughter? I'd want to castrate the b/stard.

Nothing to do with what I think of the sentence he got. That was the agreement, how can prosecutors appeal when it was them that agreed? Prosecutors appeal when they ask for a longer sentence than the defendant gets.

But in this case he got what the prosecution agreed to. Cant then say oh we agreed and he did his time but now we dont agree.

He did his time, now time to let go.

[Scott]

A judge is not necessarily bound by a plea agreement. In this case, it would appear that the judge did not agree with a 42 day sentence.

Since they are not going to appeal the extradition, it would seem that the justice system is not too concerned about it being denied. They will continue to track him and he will be looking over his shoulder until he dies.

[Linky]

A judge is not necessarily bound by a plea agreement. In this case, it would appear that the judge did not agree with a 42 day sentence.

Since they are not going to appeal the extradition, it would seem that the justice system is not too concerned about it being denied. They will continue to track him and he will be looking over his shoulder until he dies.

I dont think he cares or ever did care if he is tracked.

The judge maybe isnt bound by it but the judge did agree with it and sentenced him, that was it. Only after the fact did they change their minds.

Again, he did the sentence imposed on him. For them to then appeal the sentence that they agreed to is unconscionable.

[Linky]

A lot of common sence out of Poland . Refugees or in this case absurd US demands.

You must be choking. The guy is a known sex offender and you want to keep him living in luxury?

Well considering the victim said it was no big deal and the episode was overblown. She even made her own application to the court to have the charges dismissed.

I think he should live where he wants, whether in luxury or squalor, up to him. The victim certainly thinks its all over nothing and thinks he was treated harshly.

[mcfish]

"Samantha Geimer, the victim in the case, has made clear she believes Polanski’s long exile has been punishment enough."

Agreed, especially because its hurt him financially being away from the movie epicenter USA . He would have been better off with hindsight to serve a longer sentence and be allowed to direct in the USA

[Thorgal]

At 82, He doesn't need to work anymore.

His case was re-activated in 2009 in the US.

I think he was forced to make the Dreyfuss movie in Poland...

Edited November 28, 2015 by Thorgal

[crankshaft]

I wonder if they visited each other over the years?

[BuaBS]

A lot of common sence out of Poland . Refugees or in this case absurd US demands.

You must be choking. The guy is a known sex offender and you want to keep him living in luxury?

It was nearly 40 years ago....let it go already.

[brewsterbudgen]

He's a great director but what he did was sick.

Chinatown is one of the greatest movies ever made. And one of the best exposes of the evils of child abuse.

[Thorgal]

A lot of common sence out of Poland . Refugees or in this case absurd US demands.

You must be choking. The guy is a known sex offender and you want to keep him living in luxury?

It was nearly 40 years ago....let it go already.

Makes no difference if it was yesterday or 40 years ago.

42 days is never enough for all other rape victims and families...

Edited November 28, 2015 by Thorgal

[GOLDBUGGY]

His lawyers, the state prosecutors office, and the judge all made a deal if Polanski would plead guilty. So Polanski plead out: then the judge under public pressure decided to vacate the deal and place Polanski in prison for a long stretch for public appearance sake. The case should be closed.

Exactly correct. The deal was done, he served his time.

42 days for sex with a minor?

Sure, sounds like the very rich and privileged Polansky really got punished,

Something wrong with the American justice system, and something wrong for thinking if someone can avoid punishment for so long that they can be simply allowed to forget it.

Crap sentences are why prosecutors get the right to appeal too.

Would you shrug it off it had been your 13 year old daughter? I'd want to castrate the b/stard.

Perhaps the Prosecutors did this Plea Bargain, in which Polanski had to plea guilty, as otherwise they didn't have a case.

What proof did they had besides the say so of a Minor? No witness! No DNA! Not collect samples! No nothing!

Now match this to a Defendant with an experience high profile legal team, against a minors word, who character was not to good even by age 13, and what do you have. You have a Not Guilty Verdict!

So at least now the Prosecution has a guilty verdict and he did some jail time. Far better than nothing at in in my books.

[Credo]

His lawyers, the state prosecutors office, and the judge all made a deal if Polanski would plead guilty. So Polanski plead out: then the judge under public pressure decided to vacate the deal and place Polanski in prison for a long stretch for public appearance sake. The case should be closed.

Exactly correct. The deal was done, he served his time.

42 days for sex with a minor?

Sure, sounds like the very rich and privileged Polansky really got punished,

Something wrong with the American justice system, and something wrong for thinking if someone can avoid punishment for so long that they can be simply allowed to forget it.

Crap sentences are why prosecutors get the right to appeal too.

Would you shrug it off it had been your 13 year old daughter? I'd want to castrate the b/stard.

Perhaps the Prosecutors did this Plea Bargain, in which Polanski had to plea guilty, as otherwise they didn't have a case.

What proof did they had besides the say so of a Minor? No witness! No DNA! Not collect samples! No nothing!

Now match this to a Defendant with an experience high profile legal team, against a minors word, who character was not to good even by age 13, and what do you have. You have a Not Guilty Verdict!

So at least now the Prosecution has a guilty verdict and he did some jail time. Far better than nothing at in in my books.

So, if you can escape from jail or evade capture, you should be given a free pass?

[brewsterbudgen]

So, if you can escape from jail or evade capture, you should be given a free pass?

He hardly tunnelled out of jail!

[sential]

I wonder if they visited each other over the years?

No, but some emails - http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/18/samantha-geimer-roman-polanski-unlawful-sex-email