Legal showdown set in Polanski's LA sex case
LOS ANGELES – A film has returned director Roman Polanski to the spotlight, though it's not one of his own making.
The much-anticipated courtroom showdown Tuesday on Polanski's effort to have a 31-year-old sex prosecution against him dismissed was sparked by an HBO documentary.
"Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" aired new information about actions by the now-deceased judge who presided over his case, a scenario which his lawyers say amounted to misconduct.
But the central issue in the hearing will not be the allegations of misconduct but rather the question of whether Polanski's case can be heard out of his presence.
The director has said through his lawyer that he doesn't plan to be at the hearing; in fact, he says he has no plans to ever set foot in the United States again.
If he chose to appear, he likely would be arrested on a fugitive warrant.
The district attorney's office has argued in documents that — as a fugitive from justice — Polanski is not entitled to the processes of the court unless he appears in person to request dismissal.
His lawyer, Chad Hummel, has presented several legal arguments contending that Polanski should be allowed to have his case decided in absentia.
Since filing the request in early December, Hummel has filed many motions, among them a request to have the entire Los Angeles Superior Court disqualified from hearing the case because of bias against Polanski.
Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza, who will hear the matter, ruled that neither he nor any of the judges of his court held any bias against Polanski, a view upheld on appeal.
On Friday, Hummel filed one last motion asking to subpoena three prosecutorial officials, two of whom were involved in the original case, to testify at Tuesday's hearing.
Espinoza took the request under submission and said he would rule Tuesday, but seemed skeptical of calling two of the men who are featured in the documentary. He said their testimony would only duplicate what they said in the film.
But Deputy District Attorney Pat Dixon, who appeared at Friday's brief hearing, argued that because the director refuses to return, "Polanski can't ask this court to do anything."
Polanski, who pleaded guilty to having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl, fled into exile in France in 1977.
He had spent 42 days in prison in what his lawyers believed was his full sentence under a plea bargain. But a decision by the now deceased judge to add more prison time and require his voluntary deportation prompted him to leave the country.
The documentary on the case suggests behind-the-scenes manipulations which the defense claims amounted to judicial misconduct.
Polanski, now 75, lives in France where his film career has continued to flourish. He received a directing Oscar in absentia for the 2002 movie, "The Pianist." While still working in the United States, he directed such classic films as "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby."
5 comments:
HBO documentary about Roman Polanski zzzzzzzz and to think they took of Deadwood shame on you.
and the chick who made the Polanski documentary was in court yesterday...with a camera crew.
I smell sequel! Or at least a special edition DVD.
Being that case has been put over until May 7th this is totally redundant but I think if they can sentence people in absentia then why can't they dismiss cases in absentia?
I don't know American law so Colonel can you advise?
Hi to everybody and thanks for the great posts by the Colonel and the comments by everyone!
Since sex offenders are habitual,I think someone should be asking if there are more victims.The man has stayed out of the country this long,he can remain out until he dies.I see no reason to drop the charges.
I think it was very telling that the Judge hinted he thought there was legal misconduct on the part of the Judge and the DA (not Gunnar but I can't remember his name).
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