Roman Polanski Taken into Custody

[MsGuy]

I'm in the camp of those not too sympathetic with Polanski. I think that what may be unstated is a certain sympathy for Polanski's ordeals with the Nazis and the Manson family. Although he has probably paid his debt to his victim, I don't think he should be spared jail time due to his wealth, fame, or his past ordeals. It's interesting that apparently he even has a house in Gstaad, Switzerland, but this is the first time they arrested him.

 

Various DA's have tried to catch him out of France several times over the years with no luck. Someone in the DA's office told the media that this time they had enough advance notice of his attendance at that film event to process the paperwork and have the Switz police detain him as he entered.

 

Greg: "I don't understand why a government would not send such a person back to the country that he was to be tried in." France has a limited extradition treaty with the US and Polanski is a French citizen. (And never underestimate the joy in French hearts when they get a chance to tweak America's nose).

[mansniffing]

Polanski in today's NY Times

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/movies/29polanski.html?hp

[+ Lucky]

Polanski had entered into a plea agreement with the consent of the DA, and the victim. Yet the judge wouldn't accept it, and now it appears that a DA was coaching the judge behind the scenes on how to screw Polanski. So he didn't get a fair deal. It's no wonder he left- they were out to get him because of who he was. Yet that DA isn't being prosecuted even though he tried to subvert justice with improper communications with the judge..

[Guest HellYeahSF]

Polanski had entered into a plea agreement with the consent of the DA, and the victim. Yet the judge wouldn't accept it, and now it appears that a DA was coaching the judge behind the scenes on how to screw Polanski. So he didn't get a fair deal. It's no wonder he left- they were out to get him because of who he was. Yet that DA isn't being prosecuted even though he tried to subvert justice with improper communications with the judge..

 

Totally! It's the middle-aged guy who raped the 13-year-old girl who is the real victim here!!!!

 

Where can I go to vomit?

[TruthBTold]

If the facts are as they seem, it seems odd that a judge would accept such a small prison sentence for a major crime. Something is not right and with the judge dead, nobody would probably be able to get to the bottom of everything so that prosecution of Polanski would be just. It might fulfill whatever agenda is out there to prosecute him for a 30-year old crime (even to prosecute for a despicable act) but it probably would not be just.

[Guest HellYeahSF]

It might fulfill whatever agenda is out there to prosecute him for a 30-year old crime (even to prosecute for a despicable act) but it probably would not be just.

 

Nobody's talking about "prosecuting" him. He's already been prosecuted and pled guilty. He's a fugitive from justice, having escaped rather than served his sentence.

[alanalt]

Polanski had entered into a plea agreement with the consent of the DA, and the victim. Yet the judge wouldn't accept it, and now it appears that a DA was coaching the judge behind the scenes on how to screw Polanski. So he didn't get a fair deal. It's no wonder he left- they were out to get him because of who he was. Yet that DA isn't being prosecuted even though he tried to subvert justice with improper communications with the judge..

 

The flip-side to your points Lucky, is that while judges often accept plea bargains - they are not bound to do so. And speculating on why the judge overruled the agreement and whether he was improperly influenced to do so must remain speculation because, as TruthBTold pointed out, the judge is dead and there's now no way to really establish the 'truth' as to what may or may not have happened. As for Polanski's celebrity status playing a role in the case - I think it's worked both ways. After all, if you or I got caught having non-consensual sex with a 13 year old after plying them with pills and booze, do you really think we could get out of rape charges???

 

For my part, when this story initially broke, I was fairly sympathetic to Polanski. But upon listening to most of the 'arguments' being presented on his behalf since then, I am becoming much less so...

 

Alan

[+ Lucky]

The judge is dead, but the dirty prosecutor admitted his role in a documentary last year. I do agree that the whole affair stinks.

[mansniffing]

Sicko Posting by Newbie

 

Someone craves attention. Let it go.

As for Polanski. We have to let that go too and let it play out.

 

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

[alanalt]

The judge is dead, but the dirty prosecutor admitted his role in a documentary last year. I do agree that the whole affair stinks.

 

Yeah but how much did the prosecutor's actions ultimately influence the judge's decision to overrule the plea bargain? The only one who could tell us the answer to that is dead...

 

Alan

[+ purplekow]

Yeah but how much did the prosecutor's actions ultimately influence the judge's decision to overrule the plea bargain? The only one who could tell us the answer to that is dead...

 

Alan

I understand that the prosecuter got the judge drunk on champagne and slipped him some roofies while he was light headed from the steam of a hot tub and then influenced him to go against his better judgment.

[+ ArVaGuy]

It’s incomprehensible to me how anyone can say that Polanski should not be prosecuted for his crime. He had sex with a minor and then evaded justice for 32 years. It may or may not be true that there was prosecutorial misconduct. The current presiding judge has made it clear to Polanski and his lawyers; he must appear in court personally and prove his allegation. Perhaps there’s no real evidence of such and that’s the reason Polanski has evaded justice.

 

If Polanski gets a pass on this it’s just further proof that there is one criminal justice system for the rich and another for the rest of us. Anyone else would have been forced to serve more than 42 days for fucking a 13 year-old.

[KMEM]

Does anyone put any credence into the rumor that this whole thing is pre-arranged to include extradition, a slap on the wrist by the "current" judge and all to promote his latest movie.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[JT Brooklyn]

Apparently the Documentary is what brought this back "Into the Light"!

 

It's really Comical how all the "Entertainment Crowd" mainly in Europe of course think he should just Grow Older and be left alone!

 

They actually still have major sympathy for him after the "Manson Massacre" to this day! I'm thinking it is Time he should Pay his Way Over due Dues!

 

There will always be so called "Genius Directors" to take his place! The NYC Film Schools are Full of them. Or at least that's what they are told after they "Pay for the Semester" and sent to Brooklyn to Direct Student Films!

[Guest zipperzone]

A case could also be made for the premise that due to statutes of limitation it is just too late to prosecute him further. There may not be such a statute but perhaps there should be. If the prosecutors are so lame that they have been unable to nab him for 32 years, they are either spectacularly incompetent or a bunch of lazy louts.

 

Polanski is scummy slime. If the world is so outraged they can boycott his films. The financial ruin of that course of action would far outweigh any effects of a jail sentence.

 

Just one more opinion.

[KMEM]

There is no statue of limitations on fleeing from a sentence. Should we excuse the Nazis who have so far evaded capture from any justice?

 

Some crimes are so heinous that neither the laws of man or any thing else can keep them from being culpable. This is such a crime.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[+ Lucky]

Does anyone put any credence into the rumor that this whole thing is pre-arranged to include extradition, a slap on the wrist by the "current" judge and all to promote his latest movie.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

 

 

Please provide evidence for this cynical observation.

[KMEM]

I thougtht I clearly labeled it a rumor. What else do you need?

 

What is your problem?

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[MsGuy]

The governments of both France and Poland are backing away from their support of Polanski. My guess is regular citizens proved less forgiving of child rape than the cultural elites.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8283707.stm

 

Perhaps they still recall the words of La Marseillaise,

 

"To arms, citizens...

 

With luxury and pride surrounded

The vile insatiate despots dare.

...

Like gods would bid their slaves adore.

But man is man, and who is more?

Then shall they longer lash and goad us?"

 

(loose translation)

With luxury and pride surroundedThe vile insatiate despots dare,Their thirst of power and gold unbounded,To mete and vend the light and air! (repeat)Like beasts of burden would they load us,Like gods would bid their slaves adore,But man is man, and who is more?Then shall they longer lash and goad us?

With luxury and pride surroundedThe vile insatiate despots dare,Their thirst of power and gold unbounded,To mete and vend the light and air! (repeat)Like beasts of burden would they load us,Like gods would bid their slaves adore,But man is man, and who is more?Then shall they longer lash and goad us?

[Guest zipperzone]

There is no statue of limitations on fleeing from a sentence. Should we excuse the Nazis who have so far evaded capture from any justice?

 

Some crimes are so heinous that neither the laws of man or any thing else can keep them from being culpable. This is such a crime.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

 

 

Are you saying that raping a minor is in the same league as murdering 6 million Jews?

 

With regards to Polanski - I still say that if it took 32 years to apprehend him then they were either incredibly incompetent or incredibly lazy. If he entered the USA then I'd say grab his ass. Otherwise there must be bigger fish to fry internationally.

[+ ArVaGuy]

Are you saying that raping a minor is in the same league as murdering 6 million Jews?

 

With regards to Polanski - I still say that if it took 32 years to apprehend him then they were either incredibly incompetent or incredibly lazy. If he entered the USA then I'd say grab his ass. Otherwise there must be bigger fish to fry internationally.

 

Ploanski went to great lengths to avoid countries with extradition treaties with the US. In addition, according to the NY Post he crossed over into Holland evading authorities to attend the premier of one of his movies. He bragged that he would be out of the country before the police could catch him. He sat in the back of the theater totally unrecognized by the audience. Snuck out to dinner with one of the stars and was out by the next morning.

 

US authorities got word he was going to Canada and alerted the RCMP some years back. Someone tipped Polanski and he cancelled his trip. I would not call the authorities "lazy" rather Polanski is a slippery character.

 

IMHO Polanski could have ended this farce any time by actually returning to the US to face the charges. Judges are not obligated to accept a plea bargin. Serving 42 days for fucking a 13 year-old seems a light sentence. If there was misconduct then prove it in court. Instead of being on the lam for 32 years he could have served a couple of years and been done with it. If his allegations were true it could have been revealed in the appeals process.

[BgMstr4u]

I think this is about justice for the rich and famous vs. justice for the rest of us. The crime was heinous, and in our legal system rape is not a private matter to be settled between two parties. Her readiness to "move on" is perhaps facilitated by a large financial settlement, but her forgiveness of him, laudable as it may be, is not the whole point. Raping a child is a crime against all of us.

 

I am pretty sure he has been protected by the French authorities, which says something about egalité if not also about liberté and fraternité in la Republique. If you are a cultural icon, it seems, the French will avert their eyes. Why should "artists" be treated better than the rest of us?

 

Someone made the point about pursuing elderly priests No Matter What. A very good point. How many of their lives have been ruined for a sacristy groping, or just taking advantage of adolescent loneliness and need? This man was not just encouraging this little girl through affection, wrong as that also is. He gave booze and drugs to a 13 year old and then raped her, for God's sake. Polansky was given great leeway by the court, released on his own recognizance, even allowed by the court to go abroad for work on the promise to return. But he skipped out. I don't care why he's been arrested now. I'm glad. Bring him back. Let him face the music.

 

Update: I wrote the above before I read Susan Estrich's column on the subject. I must have been channeling her. Imagine, me agreeing with Susan Estrich!

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/09/30/roman_the_rapist_98517.html

[TruthBTold]

Society and the Individual

 

Unfortunately in the law, sometimes things like collusion between prosecutors and judges prevent prosecution or further prosecution of criminals. The theory, as I understand it, is that the punishment of one criminal is foregone so that the integrity of the system (which has been impinged by the unscupulousness of the judge and prosecutor) can be preserved. From what has been said, the prosecutor who is alive has admitted some collusion and because the judge is dead, society will never know exactly how much actually took place. Therefore, the whole thing needs to be laid to rest, not because society does not have a right to have Polanski punished but because society chooses to protect its system of punishment.

[MsGuy]

The LA Times has a piece on Hollywood's reaction to all this. I never thought I'd wind up classified as Middle America.

 

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-polanski1-2009oct01,0,1755914.story

[Guest TBinCHI]

Update: I wrote the above before I read Susan Estrich's column on the subject. I must have been channeling her. Imagine, me agreeing with Susan Estrich!

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/09/30/roman_the_rapist_98517.html

 

Or me! But, I don't think anyone has summed up the situation as well as she. It may not be the largest international issue, but justice on any scale is still justice. The man pleaded guilty and then fled the country. He thumbed his nose at the 13 year old girl that he raped and at this country for 32 years, and I hope he spends the next 32 years rotting in an American jail.