France, Poland want Polanski released on bail
- Thread starter china
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If you look at the details of the sexual assault in 1977 it was much more sinister than the Statutory Rape of a willing participant, although clearly a minor, as it has been portrayed. It involved luring the girl with promises of a photo shoot, and potential screen rolls, intoxicating the girl with drugs and alcohol, forcible confinement, rape and sodomy over the girl's objections. That, then and now, goes well beyond consensual sexual intercourse.. it would be considered a violent rape of a child under current legal parameters.. and would incur heavy prison time.
Polanski is in a situation where he could rescind his guilty plea, to statutory rape, which likely would be allowed because he did it under a plea agreement which the judge subsequently reneged on. You must honour your agreements even in the American Judicial system. But at the same time he could be tried on a much more serious charge of Forcible Rape of a Child. Polanski is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
My guess is some type of deal will be struck though, because his victim, now 45 years old, has expressed no interest in participating in the prosecution. Likely they will be bid the sentence down to year in prison or so, with credit for time served.. and Polanski should consider himself fortunate if that occurs.
Polanski is in a situation where he could rescind his guilty plea, to statutory rape, which likely would be allowed because he did it under a plea agreement which the judge subsequently reneged on. You must honour your agreements even in the American Judicial system. But at the same time he could be tried on a much more serious charge of Forcible Rape of a Child. Polanski is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
My guess is some type of deal will be struck though, because his victim, now 45 years old, has expressed no interest in participating in the prosecution. Likely they will be bid the sentence down to year in prison or so, with credit for time served.. and Polanski should consider himself fortunate if that occurs.
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But still low budget, even if well received 'arty' films. I never saw either. I don't know anyone who hasn't seen Chinatown.
CURRENT legal parameters. Polanski was convicted then. It would be double indemnity to do it again. For evasion of lawful custody, he should be tried. For reneging on his part of the bargain, the judge deserves censure.
Isn't there a Statute of Limitations in the US?
Isn't there a Statute of Limitations in the US?
The Statute of Limitations applies only between the time of the crime and the laying of the charge. There are no limitations on prosecution after the charge has been filed, and especially if the accused has fled to avoid that prosecution or serving his sentence.
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Though I don't support his crime(s), I can hardly fault Polanski in walking away from and not returning to a country where "his Honour" can renege on a deal.
Since the sentencing never happened, it's pure speculation as to what sentence he would have received, and if it was out of whack, it would have been appealed at the time, based on the deal reached.
Was it OK for him to mess around with a 13 year old?
Is it just because he is Roman Polanski that he is getting support? I assure you none of us would if we were to pull something like this.
She was 13 for crying out loud.
Is it just because he is Roman Polanski that he is getting support? I assure you none of us would if we were to pull something like this.
She was 13 for crying out loud.
If "his honour" intended to hang the guy on thumbscrews, he should have been upfront about it. What is honour if a judge can change the rules as he goes along? As far as messing around with a kid, Polanski deserves to pay the price - the one agreed upon.
Well then, he should go back to the US, have his sentencing hearing, and then face the consequences of being a fugitive as well.
He shouldn't have left in the first place - but I can understand why he did. If I sold you a car for one price, then demanded a higher price in Court would that be "honour"?
You do not get it, he has never served one second in jail. He was convicted supposed to come back to court to begin serving his sentence and he ran. Wonder how you would feel if it was your daughter he raped. No there is no statute of limitations for rape. There was no agreement, only a deal Polanski's lawyer tried to make with the judge.
Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.
BTW ... if I was down there in the land of shoot first and ask questions later and it was my daughter, he wouldn't have made it to court
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He's a fugitive and a convicted child rapist and needs to face justice for his crime. Individuals who commit sex related crimes against children are the worst of the worst in our society and need to be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. Extradite him already so he can face the music! :angryfire:
Exactly, and whether she looked 13 or 31 and consented or not doesn't matter. The guy is notorious for his preference for "lolitas", he could have made sure that the girl was at least of the age of majority. It's his bad judgement and carelessness as well as his penchant that got him into the mess in the first place, he should own it like a real man and take what's coming to him. And besides that, his movie-making talents/abilities should have NOTHING to do with it.
Whoopi Calls Polanski Case 'Not Rape-Rape,' Triggers Uproar
Hollywood supporters facing off against angry feminists over sex with teen
(Newser) – Whoopi Goldberg's comment that Roman Polanski's sex with a 13-year-old girl wasn't really "rape-rape" has added fuel to the growing conflagration between the film director's Hollywood supporters and angry feminists. "I know it wasn't rape-rape. I think it was something else, but I don't believe it was rape-rape," Goldberg said on The View. Goldberg also implies that such sex wouldn't have been such a big deal in broad-minded Europe.
"The rest of the world thinks raping kids is a-okay, whoops, our bad, we're just too uptight about drugging people and forcing sex on them," snarks a blogger on Feministe. Meanwhile, it now appears Polanski will likely sit in a Swiss jail for weeks while his court battle unfolds. There had been speculation he would be placed under house arrest at his Swiss chateau, but an official said there has "never been a house arrest in such a situation."
Hollywood supporters facing off against angry feminists over sex with teen
(Newser) – Whoopi Goldberg's comment that Roman Polanski's sex with a 13-year-old girl wasn't really "rape-rape" has added fuel to the growing conflagration between the film director's Hollywood supporters and angry feminists. "I know it wasn't rape-rape. I think it was something else, but I don't believe it was rape-rape," Goldberg said on The View. Goldberg also implies that such sex wouldn't have been such a big deal in broad-minded Europe.
"The rest of the world thinks raping kids is a-okay, whoops, our bad, we're just too uptight about drugging people and forcing sex on them," snarks a blogger on Feministe. Meanwhile, it now appears Polanski will likely sit in a Swiss jail for weeks while his court battle unfolds. There had been speculation he would be placed under house arrest at his Swiss chateau, but an official said there has "never been a house arrest in such a situation."