Posted on 07/08/2009 1:13:38 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Roman Polanski’s attorneys have asked a state appeals court to overturn the May ruling of an L.A. judge refusing to throw out Polanski’s 32-year-old child sex case while the director remains a fugitive.
In May, L.A. Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza rejected a request by Polanski’s attorneys for a dismissal of the director’s criminal case based on allegations of unethical and improper acts by a judge and prosecutor at the time of Polanski’s original case in 1977.
Espinoza said in an earlier hearing that even though he thought “substantial” misconduct had taken place, he had no choice but to deny the request unless Polanski appears in person before the court. In a writ filed Tuesday with the 2nd District Court of Appeals, attorneys for Polanski, now 75, wrote that Espinoza was legally wrong in rejecting the director’s bid for dismissal of his case based on the “fugitive disentitlement doctrine.”
Because the actions of the same court and prosecutor’s office forced Polanski to flee to escape illegal imprisonment, the court is relying on a “Catch-22” to stop an inquiry into its own misconduct, attorneys contended.
The L.A. courts and district attorney’s office “have been clear that they have no interest in addressing and remedying the misconduct that took place, perhaps seeking to avoid the anticipated political fallout,” attorneys Chad Hummel, Douglas Dalton and Bart Dalton wrote. Polanski has indicated through his lawyers that he has no intention of returning to the U.S. The writ argues that a hearing into the misconduct in the case could take place in Polanski’s absence because the director has no personal knowledge of the alleged illegal acts by the judge and prosecutor.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
He had sex with Sharon Tate, right?
What is this dude’s problem? He slept with an underage girl— he didn’t go to jail. Now STHU!
He didn’t just sleep with her, he drugged her and raped her.
This country has its flaws, to be sure, but we can always hold our heads high in the knowledge that we are less tolerant of celebrity pedophile rapists than France is.
You did mean to add a sarcasm tag to that right?
While Polanski has been a child rapist fugitive from justice in this country for 32 years, never free to set foot on our soil, he has lived and worked quite openly and happily in France.
That's gotta count as a positive for us.
Maybe he can give a few million to charity and the guillible will praise him like they do Micheal Jackson...
Maybe he can give a few million to charity and the gullible will praise him like they do Micheal Jackson - or maybe he'll have to donate a hospital wing or two... Or better - give the Washington Post big money and get some puff pieces written making him look WONDERFUL.
You are kidding right?
he is using the Michael Jackson defense?
Sharon Tate was murdered by the Manson Family in 1969. Eights years after he became a widower, Roman Polanski raped a 13 yead old girl.
- Saturday Night Live ( Show lead in from sometime in the early 1978 season )
If Congress votes in 0bamacare, that won’t effect RP’s desire to return. He would get “special consideration” anyway.
Wasn’t he in a different country during most of their marriage?
They do lead special lives, these Hollywood titans. This particular one gave champagne and quaaludes to a 13-year-old girl, had sex with her, and then claimed that her Mom set her up. Pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and scooted. I’m looking for the sympathy button here but I’m just not finding it.
Talk about “gullible”. Try reading the defense’s case instead of parading your ignorance blabbing the prosecutor’s.
We are also lucky to live in a country where we get tried by a jury of our peers...
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