Throughout my seven months since September 26, 2009, the date of my arrest at Zurich Airport, where I had landed with a view to receiving a lifetime award for my work from the representative of the Swiss Minister of Culture, I have refrained from making any public statements and have requested my lawyers to confine their comments to a bare minimum. I wanted the legal authorities of Switzerland and the United States, as well as my lawyers, to do their work without any polemics on my part.
I have decided to break my silence in order to address myself directly to you without any intermediaries and in my own words.
I have had my share of dramas and joys, as we all have, and I am not going to try to ask you to pity my lot in life. I ask only to be treated fairly like anyone else.
It is true: 33 years ago I pleaded guilty, and I served time at the prison for common law crimes at Chino, not in a VIP prison. That period was to have covered the totality of my sentence. By the time I left prison, the judge had changed his mind and claimed that the time served at Chino did not fulfil the entire sentence, and it is this reversal that justified my leaving the United States.
This affair was roused from its slumbers of over three decades by a documentary film-maker who gathered evidence from persons involved at the time. I took no part in that project, either directly or indirectly. The resulting documentary not only highlighted the fact that I left the United States because I had been treated unjustly; it also drew the ire of the Los Angeles authorities, who felt that they had been attacked and decided to request my extradition from Switzerland, a country I have been visiting regularly for over 30 years without let or hindrance.
I can now remain silent no longer!
I can remain silent no longer because the American authorities have just decided, in defiance of all the arguments and depositions submitted by third parties, not to agree to sentence me in absentia even though the same Court of Appeal recommended the contrary.
I can remain silent no longer because the California court has dismissed the victim’s numerous requests that proceedings against me be dropped, once and for all, to spare her from further harassment every time this affair is raised once more.
I can remain silent no longer because there has just been a new development of immense significance. On February 26 last, Roger Gunson, the deputy district attorney in charge of the case in 1977, now retired, testified under oath before Judge Mary Lou Villar in the presence of David Walgren, the present deputy district attorney in charge of the case, who was at liberty to contradict and question him, that on September 16, 1977, Judge Rittenband stated to all the parties concerned that my term of imprisonment in Chino constituted the totality of the sentence I would have to serve.
I can remain silent no longer because the request for my extradition addressed to the Swiss authorities is founded on a lie. In the same statement, retired deputy district attorney Roger Gunson added that it was false to claim, as the present district attorney’s office does in their request for my extradition, that the time I spent in Chino was for the purpose of a diagnostic study.
The said request asserts that I fled in order to escape sentencing by the U.S. judicial authorities, but under the plea-bargaining process I had acknowledged the facts and returned to the United States in order to serve my sentence. All that remained was for the court to confirm this agreement, but the judge decided to repudiate it in order to gain himself some publicity at my expense.
I can remain silent no longer because for over 30 years my lawyers have never ceased to insist that I was betrayed by the judge, that the judge perjured himself, and that I served my sentence. Today it is the deputy district attorney who handled the case in the 1970s, a man of irreproachable reputation, who has confirmed all my statements under oath, and this has shed a whole new light on the matter.
I can remain silent no longer because the same causes are now producing the same effects. The new District Attorney, who is handling this case and has requested my extradition, is himself campaigning for election and needs media publicity!
I can no longer remain silent because the United States continues to demand my extradition more to serve me on a platter to the media of the world than to pronounce a judgment concerning which an agreement was reached 33 years ago.
I can remain silent no longer because I have been placed under house arrest in Gstaad and bailed in very large sum of money which I have managed to raise only by mortgaging the apartment that has been my home for over 30 years, and because I am far from my family and unable to work.
Such are the facts I wished to put before you in the hope that Switzerland will recognize that there are no grounds for extradition, and that I shall be able to find peace, be reunited with my family, and live in freedom in my native land.
Roman Polanski
(Tr. Janet Lizop)
Me, me, me, me…
Poor Roman. Everybody’s after me.
Stop the whining and face the music, cockroach.
Roman never did anything wrong. He had a perfectly normal sexual relationship with a charming young girl, something which both of them surely enjoyed. There is no reason whatsoever why Roman should ever be put in jail. Why on earth is this excellent film-maker being persecuted by some intolerant, narrow-minded people like this evil district-attorney? Can it be that some bigoted people suffer from an inferiority complex, feeling frustration when confronted with such a succesfull and talented person like Roman? Really, this is like a return to the dark ages of witch hunting and prejudice. I thought this was the open-minded 21th century with sexual freedom and tolerance. Let´s all stand by Roman, one of the best film-makers of this century, and protect everyones right to a free, unlimited life in the thrue spirit of tolerance of this enlightened 21th century.
Willem: Bravo! Everything in your satirical (it WAS satire, right?) encapsulates all the idiocy of the apologists. You could have been a tad more subtle, but still, I laughed.
You’re an idiot. Stop talking. Instead you should read and listen more.
i am not sure why we should care what happens to Roman. You did something that’s very unforgivable. You at a age of 40+ drugged and had sex with a girl age 13. You don’t sound like a normal guy. You should be put in mental institution or life in prison. I can’t believe countries give people like Roman that much freedom; shame on all the E.U countries.
Polanski is jewish , so being one of Gods people, he does not have to comply with U.S. law–Under Talmudic law this is not a crime. Jews should have « special treatment »
enjoy it pal, because this is the only voice you have.
Funny, it seems that all the people who leave comments here judge Mr. Polanski without even reading this letter. He claim that he already plead guilty and serve times for what he did, and yet the blind mod here keep screaming he should be punish for trying to escape justice.
I grow up in China, and I thought the Westerners are be the civilized ones, lol
We’ve read the letter. We also know that he barely served any time. China has a wonderful history of patience and scholarship. I suggest you try following it to educate yourself on this subject.
He is a vile man and deserves no more of our attention. Seriously, what is the theory? « Sure he raped a 13 year old girl, but he made Chinatown! »
there is no excuse for what he did. and he deserves to face the full consequences under the law.
all you have to do is read a little. Not a lot. A little.
Go to jail like you deserve you child rapist. Register as a sex offender, attend the mandatory classes and then disappear into obscurity like you deserve. No one wants to hear your arrogant « poor me » whining. You’re an admitted rapist and « fair » is sending you to jail like you deserve. So stop whining.
RP,
You are a child rapist and fugitive from justice. Don’t worry, I don’t pity you…I depise you and cannot wait until you finally have to face the consequences of your actions.
Oh shut up, Polanski. Not only a rapist and a coward, but now a crybaby too? I laugh at the thought of your « betrayal » – you fled the country to avoid the sentence for a crime you admitted to! I have a hard time feeling sorry for you, when even common street thugs report to serve their time. Also, you lost the right to cite the victim’s wishes the minute you drugged and raped her. It’s not classy to keep bringing her up. If there is a media circus surrounding the victim, it is only because she has the misfortune of being a victim of RAPE by a monster who refuses to accept his punishment.
You will find the US Prison system only too eager to dismiss accusations of rape. Good luck.
You are a cowardly rapist. You fled the country. Now you must pay for your crime. I don’t care how important you feel yourself to be. You are not a victim, you are a criminal. The true victim was a 13 year old girl and just because she wants it dropped doesn’t mean what you did, did not happen.
Now you’re a prisoner in a well to do home, you should have thought about the prison you put a little girl in 30 years ago. And she wasn’t the first, was she?
Mr. Polanski, you raped a child. Stop sounding so lofty. You are no better than any other child rapist.
The only thing Polanski should open his mouth for is to apologize to this girl that is now a woman. Not only for raping her to begin with as a 13 year old child, but for continuing to use her weariness of this story to stay of jail, where he belongs. Other men are in jail for decades for doing what he did. Why should he get anything less?
I wholeheartedly wish and hope Mr. Polanski to be released at the earliest opportunity so he can return to his family and friends, and can continue his work.
That’s nice of you, Ivo. And what do you hope for the girl that he raped, now a woman?
Mr. Polanski is leaving out a key plea bargain fact – the judge expected him to serve 90 days at Chino. At the time the Chino facility was considered easier than a regular prison, it was done as a favor to Mr Polanski. Unfortunately he was allowed to leave after 42 days because he was not mentally ill. The attempt to make his 90 days go easier back-fired on the judge. The Judge could have fairly sentenced Polanski to the remaining 48 days and still stay within the frame-work of the original plea bargain. Mr Polanski complicated matters by traveling to Europe (had permission to finish a film only) and was photographed drinking and partying with underage girls. According to reports the Judge was very upset and may have imposed a more severe penalty. The truth is we do not know if the judge would have sentenced him to 48 days (to meet the plea bargain requirements) or a more severe penalty because Polanski did not show up at the hearing – Polanski skipped out on the agreement before the judge did.
What joy. An adult plies a 13 year-old with alcohol and quaaludes, and he v*ginally and *nally rapes her while she is asking him to stop. Not a problem to some, I guess. Read the 13 year-old girl’s horrifying official testimony: (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/polanskib1.html):
*
Polanski gives a 13 year-old girl champagne and asks her to take her shirt off (pg. a15). He gives her a quaalude. The victim states that she would not have taken the quaalude if she had not been drunk (pg.a18). Polanski insists she get naked despite her protests (pg. b4).
*
The victim asks to be taken home several times. Polanski refuses (pgs. b4, b8, b9). She makes up a story about needing to go home to get her asthma medicine (pgs. b6, b7, b8). Polanski refuses.
*
Polanski forces himself upon her and begins to commit sexual intercourse. The victim says, « No, stop. » (pg. b12). Polanski becomes concerned as to when the girl last had her period or if she were taking birth control medicine (pg. b13). Apparently afraid that he might get the girl pregnant, Polanski *nally rapes her. The victim states that she only resisted a little at this time, « Because I was afraid of him. » (pg. b14). Polanski is distracted by a woman entering the house. The girl takes the opportunity to put her panties back on. Polanksi then removes her panties to resume intercourse with her. (pg. b16).
*
Yup. Not a problem. I wonder if Polanski’s supporters would care if the same happened to one of their daughters.
*
Oh, and the documents pertaining to his « completed prison sentence » are also online (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0928091polanskiplea1.html). In the agreement he made in person with the judge, Polanski agrees to undergo evaluation as required by California law (pgs. 7-8). He agrees that his crime carries a 1-15 year sentence (pg. 7). He agrees that sentencing will not take place until after his evaluation (pg. 7). Polanski’s few weeks in jail were an evaluation. He fled before sentencing. Polanski did *not* serve out a sentence. He was not even sentenced before flight.
So under the influence of some bizarre delusion, Mr. Polanski is suggesting that the original sentence he served of 44 days, is enough punishment for repeatedly raping a 13 year old girl? Is that whats happening?
at least you’re asking a question.
Mr. Polanski should be treated « like anyone else » who has drugged and raped a child. Put his pedophile ass in jail.
« Wow. Amazing stuff here. First off, she was both vaginally and anally penetrated after having been drugged. The medical evidence clearly demonstrate this. I can never quite understand why so many who argue for Polanski in this matter have such little grasp of the facts of the case.
Why are so many defending a jerk who raped a 13 year old girl anyway? »
————————-
I have three daughters here in California, and if you did what you did to any of them, the few years you would serve in prison would never be enough for the pain and anguish you would have caused my family. 13 years old . . . What were you thinking?
You think 42 days is Justice for raping a little girl? Dude get real! You are a pedophile, and I wonder how many other victims you got away with, since your method was to knock them out with drugs. Sick Man . . . Sick.
If you do the crime, you need to do the time. In China you would be killed by their justice system, and in less then a year. Be thankful you raped her in California.
You make me sick. If your fans think you should be free, then they obviously don’t have daughters of their own. I hope the Swiss see you for what you really are, a pedophile who sodomizes young innocent girls, a coward, and someone who lived most of their life without the memories of doing time in a state prison. (Misdemeanor criminals serve 6 months to 12 months, you are a felon, 42 days? Whatever.)
Mr Steele
Forty-two days does not seem like much for the crime committed. However, many women sentenced for pedophilia and rape in the US today often receive sentences of as little or even less time! Roman Polanski, deserving or not, served the time he was given as part of his plea deal. If the court had been unhappy with the terms of the deal (which they are very keen to make when it serves their purposes) they should not have agreed to it in the first place.
How sad, someone is treating this rapist and child molester poorly? Awful.
Clearly the US needs to be more kind and compassionate to rapists, if we keep treating them badly we’ll end up driving more rapists out of the country… then who will molest small children for us?
Maybe we should be nicer to murderers as well? We’d hate to run out of psychopaths and rapists at the same time… thankfully Europe looks willing to take in these poor misunderstood child rapists… I guess the children in Europe had things too easy before so more of them needed raped and abused.
Why is everyone being so mean to the poor misunderstood child abuser and rapist? If you can’t get off scot-free after drugging and raping a child… what good is being rich and famous anyhow? Right?
I think drugging and raping a 13 year old girl is a serious enough crime that it should ruin your (otherwise charmed) life. If the same happened to one of your children, I imagine you wife would not think 42 days in jail would constitute justice. However imperfect the US or any other judicial system, you have invited its imperfections into your life with your actions. If you are looking for peace, you will have to face the music. If you are looking to scoot free out of it, I hope you re not successful.
YOU ARE MANIPULATED, CAN’T YOU SEE? I bet a lot of people criticize Polański just becouse the media do this. It’s always easy to criticize but what about Your lives? Maybe you should start controlling them instead of judging the others?! If you are passive,afraid of taking any action or fighting for your dreams it’s your problem. Success isn’t manna, it’s a payment for years of hard working, so being jelalous isn’t fair. People always want to see celebrities from the worst side to be sure they are not gods and make the same human mistakes (most of You have slept with someone uderage). It’s not my subjective opinion, it’s psychology 🙂
Are you having sadistic satisfactinion from somebody’s suffering? Watch same hard porn ald leave him alone! Let him do what he is best in- films.
Stop running and fight. The more u run the more guilty u look and just remember, u still have to live with what u did. And should we applaud that you served time in Chino?
You want to be treated like anyone else? Gladly! Anyone else who’s plead guilty to, was convicted of, and has subsequently bragged and joked in the press (Martin Amis interview 1979) about raping a kid would serve jail time. So get over yourself and get your ass in jail, like anyone else.
Oh please… Read the letter before you comment. Sure anal rape of a 13 year old girl is horrible. But the reason we have a court with a judge is that someone who has made poor decisions should be able to somehow pay for them. Its not mr Polanski’s fault that the US judge decided to only sentence him for 42 days. He served the time the judge decided, and now its time that we let it go. If you’re truly unhappy about sentence try to change the system. Dont take it out on someone « innocent ». And remember that the girl is still affected every time the case is resurfacing.
hannah, read the case before you comment. What the judge did was QUESTIONABLY legal (more like unethical, though.) What Polanski did was UNDOUBTEDLY illegal. « And remember that the girl is still affected every time the case is resurfacing. » You have Roman to thank for that. If you want to blame anyone, it all rests squarely on him, his actions, and his refusal to own up to his crime. Even in this ridiculous letter he wrote us, do you see any apology? No, it’s all the same bile he’s been spewing for years: « This is so unfair to me. I’m such a victim. »
Rape…it’s okay after enough time has gone by. Raping a teenager…it’s okay if her mom says go ahead and hit it. Anally raping a virgin…it’s okay if the drugs make her easygoing. And if the victim is so traumatized and weary of you fighting the charges that she just wants the horror to end, then it’s totally okay.
You’ve had plenty of time to run around on that teensy bit time. But it’s okay. We know you won’t come back on your own. You’d have to be a man to do that, and real men don’t do to children what you did to at least one little girl.
« Affair? » You have affairs with adults. Bonking a 13 year old is not an affair.
« I can remain silent no longer »
Ummmm, is that your daughter?
Funny… he can remain silent no longer. But he refrains from saying A WORD about what he did to that young girl 30 or so years ago. He’s slime. Europe can have him.
Lets assume that everything you say is true (something I don’t necessarily believe…but lets just assume)…the simple fact is that there were appropriate legal remedies at you and your lawyers disposal at the time of sentencing to correct any real or perceived injustices due to the Judge or the prosecutor’s misrepresentations or misconduct. « Fleeing the jurisdiction » is NEVER an appropriate or legal remedy. Flight from justice is itself a crime, a separate crime for which you should be prosecuted for. Extradition is absolutely necessary to deter future affluent individuals from believing that their wealth entitles them to decide which laws they will adhere to…and which they will ignore.
Polanski spent 42 whole days in Chino for Rape. I don’t think he mentioned that in his rantish bleat.
It’a nice, so to speak, that in his second point he stands up for the person he raped by saying this would be against her wishes because she’s tired of being dragged out into limelight.
Well Roman, had you the character to realize that 42 days in jail for Rape would never be satisfactory in anyone’s mind this would have been over along time ago. You should have stayed and dealt with the justice you deserved.
I grew up and went to school near Hughes Jr. High School where the Victim had been enjoying a life as a young girl in SoCal.
And Roman Polanski continues to bitch about the lack of justice he’s rec’d.
I hope this helps.
You served your sentence? Only in your sick mind do rapists do a few weeks in jail. This is not the movies, it’s real life. Go back and serve your 2 years maximum like a man. Then you can travel anywhere.
Polanski, It’s more than a little disingenuous of you to cry your crocodile tears over the victim’s pleadings that the case be dropped because she gets harassed every time it comes up- she gets harassed by a vulture media and by your friends and defenders (which generally includes the vulture media) because your ‘defense’ has ALWAYS included blaming your child victim for the fact that you drugged and raped her.
You have never publicly insisted that your friends and defenders leave her alone either, nor have we ever seen you admitting that you’ve harmed her and her family enough already.
You, sir, are a coward. You have not done penance for your crime, nor have you expressed regret. Stand up and walk into US custody with your head held high, and face your judgement like a man. One day you will face God as your judge, and there will be no bail-jumping or extradition fighting there. Bon chance, mon ami, and my God have mercy on your soul.
I’m getting tired of writing these damned responses.
Thought this might interest you. Hope bball went ok despite your rough night!
love you!
I can remain silent no longer, prison is for the common people. I, Roman Polanski, am beyond man’s law. As the meglomaniac that I am, how dare you assert your laws on my person. The bitch deserved it!
Whether Polanski is or isn’t above the law, I don’t know. But if you think that no one is…boy, you got some observing to do. Laws are a tricky thing – especially with those who make them / influence them.
Mr. Polanski is not a victim. To try and potray himself as one takes away from the true victim, again. Mr. Polanski is a sorry excuse for a human being.
christ, like putting a mic to a bee hive.
« I ask only to be treated fairly, like anyone else. » Mr. Polanski, how exactly do you think people who drug and rape children are normally treated? Because « they flee to Europe, have a long successful career, and become quite wealthy » isn’t actually the answer. Nor is « if they run away and stay gone long enough, everybody forgives and forgets. » Being treated fairly, like anyone else, for raping a child involves a long prison term.
Chris R – you’re quite mistaken or live in a fantasy world – the medical evidence DISCREDITS this entirely. Where you have your info from eludes me. Look on smokinggun where you can find that there was NO anal or vaginal trauma in any form. Absolutely nothing to prove rape. The girl lied, end of.
Actually, Marshal, Roman already admitted to drugging her and having sex with her. You don’t need signs of trauma for it to be rape. You need to be enlightened, end of.
Keep on dreaming, Chris. He did NOT admit to ‘drugging’ nor raping or sodomising her – and anal and vaginal rape ALWAYS leaves trauma. Ask any genuine rape victim. ‘Rape’ by legal definition is forceful intercourse only, nothing else. There was no forceful intercourse ergo, no ‘rape’.
Great game of misdirect Polanski. Can we focus on your cleverly worded « common law crimes » which is where the focus should be? You drugged a 13 year old girl then raped her in every opening in here body even telling her that you were raping her in the ass to do her the great favor of not getting her pregnant. You were allowed to plead to the ridiculous sentence of 6 weeks in jail and when you found out you were gong to have to serve the WHOLE 6 WEEKS (whew) you fled the country like the cowardly rapist you are. Yes, it sounds like the judge changed his mind about letting you serve less than the whole 6 weeks but guess what? Judges change their minds all the time at practically every trial there is. What he did was come to his senses. Just the fact that you wrote « common law crimes » shows what a deceitful rapist you are. Say it, you raped her and then admitted raping her because in your sick little world you thought you hadn’t done anything wrong. Artists like yourself are allowed to get young girls drunk and drugged so they can have their moment of rape entitlement, right? Well guess what? You’re coming back to face the music for RAPING A 13 YEAR OLD!!! Your trying to make yourself the victim here is disgusting and makes matters worse. What you really don’t want to happen is for the facts of what you did to be splashed all over the press back here. But it’s gonna happen little rapist…
This is a joke, right? Absolutely astounding the amount of hubris this man shows. But then again, this is the same person that got away with raping a 13 year old child for 30+ years. Mr. Polanski believes he’s a « victim » in all this. Hah! You’ve been a fugitive for 30+ years because you didn’t want to spend another 45 DAYS in jail? Really? You’ve had this yoke about your neck because you didn’t want to spend another 45 DAYS? That is the pathetic.
Read more, talk less.
Bart, minimalism has its place, but you really aren’t disproving anyone with your flippancy.
I’m sorry Roman, but I’m afraid life is not always fair for child rapists. You said once that every 40 year old man wishes to have sex with children. No, Roman… they do NOT.
Moreover, it’s become quite well established that an incident of child molestation or rape is almost never an isolated, one-time only event. More than likely, you’ve done this to God-only knows how many other children over the years. Certainly, your statement that you only did what all men wish to do doesn’t show much remorse on your part. I don’t know what the judge did or did not promise you 30 years ago. But I think the parents of Europe should be comforted knowing that every night you spend confined to your luxury Swiss chalet is one more night they need not worry about you spending time with their underaged daughters.
Jiri, find out what the judge did, or did not promise. And if there were any more offences throughout the years…do you, Jiri, think they would stay silent? especially now? Consider Tiger Woods’ scenerio…
The deed…of course, wrong. But this whole publicity thing is orchestrated. (I just hope you are aware).
I hope that this child rapist serves his sentence in full. It’s unfortunate that the SCOTUS struck down the death penalty for villains like this.
In the United States a 13 year old girl can not give permission for sex. It is rape, if he had paid her it would be rape, if she ask him to have sex with her it would be rape. He is a rapist, child molester, and should serve his time in prison with added time for fleeing the country. Sympathy for him is not an option.
Be a man Polanski. You took advantage of a 13 year old. She’s a child. Enjoy prison, there will plenty to attend to your backside needs.
Pervert.
Polanski, you should have come back and served the rest of your time if, for no other reason, the 42 days you served was not justice for drugging and raping a young girl. Had you done that you would have been out a long time ago with a great career directing any project of your choosing waiting for you. People would have forgiven you. Maybe not everyone – but most people, considering the death of your wife and unborn child, would forgive you.
But you ran away for 30 years, never expressed any real remorse, and now you’re whining about injustice. You did this to yourself.
He druged and raped a 13 year old girl and then ran from justice when he found out he might get more than a slap on the wrist. Shame on him STILL.
You may not be remaining silent, but the only words that could matter are the ones you must utter in legal proceedings. Otherwise, your words fall on deaf, callous ears.
If you have a case, prove it in court. Until then, nobody cares what you have to say — but we do care about justice. Raping girls not acceptable.
The relevant quote for your situation is « Never complain. Never explain » (Attributed to Henry Ford II after being arrested for drunk driving) Here you have both complained and explained. Big mistake.
Well, thanks for that, Roman. Now, how about you apologize for raping a girl and admit that you violated another human being out of sheer selfishness and disregard for another person’s life? Because nothing you say has any merit whatsoever until you say it.
But, it’s all about how unfair the world is to YOU, isn’t it? Seventy something years old, and you still don’t have a clue about your hypocrisy.
Hey, Roman,
Why not just go back to the states and serve the sentence that you were lawfully convicted of. I’m sure you’ll like being the loved one of Spike and Bubba. As you deserve.
quel crapule! what a little prick this guy is!
si le juge a mal agi, il faut faire un autre procès et non pas laisser impuni un homme qui viole les petites filles
if the judge acted badly, let’s have another trial, not let a criminal go free!
that is how it is usually done. except in this guy’s head.
Polanski, if you thought « I can now remain silent no longer! », was going to garner some sympathy or a groundswell of indignation on your behalf, you have miscalculated abysmally.
You sir, are the worst kind of disease on the planet, a person who exploited a child for sexual gratification. Ever the coward, you even had to drug the child to carry out your disgusting acts.
You are no martyr, you have not been wronged. You are an animal.
Quit barking. Return to silence.
Polanski acted like an a-hole on the night in question, and anybody who says otherwise is smoking something evil. But the hysteria of those who now scream « child rape » brings to mind the lynch mob in some old Western movie trying to tear down the jail and just hang the bastard without bothering with a trial.
It is not true that Polanski is trying to get away with that crime, as some imply. He was already prosecuted, the case was settled by the Los Angeles court system, and then the court system discredited itself by reneging on a deal that had been worked out with the cooperation of the family of the offended party. So the court system has no moral leg to stand on.
Which would still leave us with the interests of the offended party, of course. As some here may not be aware, a substantial monetary settlement has been reached with that offended party, who has repeatedly asked that this matter be dropped.
The issue isn’t whether Polanski should be given a pass on the basis of what a great artist he is, the answer to that is a definite « No! » The issue is whether there is any legitimate basis on which to retry this case given the unethical conduct of the court system on the first go-round, the restitution Polanski has performed, the clearly stated wishes of the offended party, and the very long time during which the Los Angeles authorities have expressed no interest in the matter. The answer to that is also « No! »
He STILL had sex with a child who was drugged and given alcohol, and I don’t care what your culture says, that is wrong. He should be glad that he got away and shut up. There is no rehabilitating a child molester’s image, and anyone who thinks that he should be allowed to do so is every bit as morally bankrupt as Polanski.
I can remain silent no longer, except about mentioning that i plied a child with drugs and alcohol!
I can remain silent no longer, that a few months in prison for that crime is shameful in a civilized society.
I can remain silent no longer, because i am in danger of running out of champaign in my house, i mean mansion, arrest, and that is just cruel and unusual…
Tell me folks, if this was just Ronald Polanski, plumber, would you guys care so much?
Mr. Polanski should return to the United States and face his charges like a man. If he is as innocent as he claims, he should have no trouble clearing his name.
more reading, less talking
A preference for underage girls can be attributed to an undersized jonas. The necessity to drug and liquor them into submission shows that the pleasure and the pressure was all yours.
What a pitiful character you have, not even worthy of filming..
It was rape and she was (quite) underage. Do the crime, do the time.
In theory, our laws apply equally without regard to wealth or position. Now, pooor Roman is upset he was handed the same sort of stiff sentence any other schmoo would get for drugging and raping an underage girl.
Worse, you’re a fugitive from justice. That alone is worth many more years in the slammer.
There is nothing you’ve done in your life that excuses your crimes. Nothing.
Go back to jail. I hope they lose the key.
He must be broke. Why else would he write this? One other thing, where was this little girls father. Most fathers who love their daughters know how to take care of little runt like this. They also wouldn’t let them go for a photo shoot with dirty old man.
« All that remained was for the court to confirm this agreement, but the judge decided to repudiate it »
Which means the rest of the letter is just whining and excuses. Judges are not bound by deals between prosecutors and criminals. In fact, their duty requires they ignore such deals if the proposed punishment does not fit the crime.
One thing completely missing is any sign of remorse for such a heinous crime.
So Roman….. to quote Whoopie … it wasn’t rape rape
roflmao
Wah Wah Wah
Man-up, you plead guilty, you ran out of the country. WWII was a long time ago too, they are still chasing NAZIs.
There must be some doubt in your mind that you are truly right or you would have no problem coming back to put an end to this matter. You are afraid and not a man. A man will stand up to his accusers and demand justice. You knew you were going back to prison because there were probably other circumstances you are leaving out and that is why you will not appear in the US. Sissy.
…and I can remain silent no longer because Mr. Polanski mentioned not one word of regret for his choice to rape and drug a child. Disgusting.
The US have indeed a double agenda, you cannot give a sentence and later change it later. This is just a witch hunt, and better if the « prey » has a progressive mind, and is European. The US legal system is not corrupt? What a joke! What do you think a bunch of rednecks jury would decide after all the media attention, at libertarian Euro criminal trying to escape their holy country? And Switzerland is playing a disgusting role is all of this. If mr. Polanski already did jail time, if justice has made errors and contraditory decisions, if the victim asked to let the case rest, if more than 30 years have passed, let it rest.
Free Polanski!
There is never an excuse to abuse a child. Be a man now after all those years and finally face justice. If you could look into a tiny girl’s eyes and go on doing what you did, perhaps you can go on now too and face your judges’ eyes…
But I doubt it…
I think it is silly to punish an old man for things which a younger version of him did 33 years, especially when we consider that the girl in question, now a woman, does not wish him punished and in view of the fact that the DA of that time has testified in Polanski’s favor. He has behaved decently for 33 years and that is what counts.
Ultimately we do have to decide, is the US penal system for revenge or for « correction »?
Too many posting here seem to think that revenge is the main reason for punishment. But that goes against the entire philosophy of the penal system.
The levels of hostility visible in various comments, here and all over the forums into which people pour their frustrations, seem to reflect little interest in caution, but rather, a propensity for condescension and power-tripping.
Roman Polanski’s letter is a very considered and intelligent reflection on his current state – why is it that so many should be hostile to him? He is certainly not a threat, and furthermore, he is trapped.
The reasons for the hostility seem to have much more to do with the self-congratulatory mindset of our Anglo-Saxon cultures, and their love for public humiliation – American authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about this in a cautionary fashion, but his words ring with ironic irrelevancy in an age when most Americans no longer read.
At no point in this process is Mr. Polanski running from his responsibilities, and the complexities of his case are towering – yet, fools on all sides go-on vomiting their superior bile, passing bitter judgments on a matter which by all evidence is really a matter for legal experts to resolve.
Why is it then, that so many people (many of which remember little or nothing of the case) are intent in condemning Mr. Polanski in the court of public opinion? Perhaps it is precisely because they want to tip the balance beyond what the facts, in all their minutia, mandate and merit – perhaps all the hatred exists precisely because “we don’t do nuance” as G.W. Bush proudly stated, about us – his people. Nuance tends to reveal the complex nature of both sides in morality plays – things are rarely as they seem, and the trouble with the superficiality of modern America, and its imitators, is that the fear of complexity is actually a denial of the weakness of the ground on which we all stand.
America would do well to learn nuance…
Attacking Mr. Polanski when he is powerless is akin to shooting a fish in a barrel and this says infinitely more about the personality of the shooters than about the man in question.
I pray that Mr. Polanski can stay out of the court of sensation, gratuitous vindictiveness on the part of 3rd party gawkers, and other morally superior pundits… I pray that people merely read his words and make the simple effort of understanding them.
Nowhere can I read that Roman Polanski denies the fact. He simply states – among a lot of other things- that he served the time originally sentenced upon him.
Regardless of anyones personal opinion there is no point in calling him names for the abuse. If you find that the original sentence wasn’t enough then please vote for a party in your country that will try and change that.
Enough is enough. The little girl she was has forgiven mr.Polanski. The case is over, now. Let him free for now and forever. Let him do the work he wants to do, because nobody has any advantage to put mr.polanski in jail. He ha suffered enough.
C.Anneese
You are a pedophile rapist and justice has to be done!
@ arawn eibhlyb It’s really not about what would be a fair sentence. We’re not judges in that case. What matters is the fact that the man who _was_ the judge in that case said that a 42 day long sentence would be all, and then went back on his own word, wishing to sentence Polanski the second time for the same crime. The role of judges is to judge crimes, the role of democratic societies is to keep their judges from misusing their position. If we confuse the roles we’ll end up with both corruption and lynch mobs.
Panie Romanie, wszystkiego najlepszego dla Pana i rodziny!
The decision to leave the US 32 years ago was a big mistake in the first place.
And it’s a big mistake now, to fight the extradition.
Just go back and fight and deal with it.
Don’t be a sissy!
Dr. M.
http://phdguy.com/
I hope by doctor you mean mechanic.
‘Magnitude of his crime’? He slept with a minor, nothing more. That’s a moral issue the US always had a mega problem with in their so sexually repressed land of no hope let alone glory, where they punish men for sex and send them into hell to get raped by inmates and guards alike, their lives destroyed forever. If it had been rape they’d gone for a trial; no trial, no rape let alone sodomy the medical evidence entirely discredits in both cases. Ten years is folly, not even forcible rape gets that. The law then said one year minimum for unlawful sex, and Rittenband wanted to have him inside for the three months he used as punishment under the ‘diagnostic study’, the probation officers then cut short, and everybody, including the attorneys and Geimer herself along with her mother demanded no further time inside. Rittenband then threatened him with unlawful self-deportation, and that’s why he fled. Polanski has a perfect right to decry that Cooley and his henchmen are after his blood with lies, not any justice
At times like this, I am reminded of George Orwell’s thoughts about Salvador Dali:
If Shakespeare returned to the earth to-morrow, and if it were found that his favourite recreation was raping little girls in railway carriages, we should not tell him to go ahead with it on the ground that he might write another KING LEAR.
I guess we use liar to describe Polanski now, along with child-rapist and child-drugger. Why don’t you do the right thing and kill yourself Roman.
Yup, Polanski is being skewered for GHOST WRITER without a doubt. And as anonymous wrote, sex laws in the U.S. — and laws related to anything sexual, like family law — are a major farce. Just check out a website called http://www.ncpforce.com, and you will see how crazy the laws in the United States are. And just how corrupt their judges are. Read it, and you will be shocked.
Enough is enough. Free Polanski now!
arawn eibhlyn and wpkatz, you are fools and don’t know what you’re talking about.
yes, free poor, victimized Polanski! All he did was drug and rape a little girl!!!!! Living for 30 years like a king in europe, where they don’t care about child molesters walking around freely, is punishment enough!
sandra, you are also a fool.
Wow. Amazing stuff here. First off, she was both vaginally and anally penetrated after having been drugged. The medical evidence clearly demonstrate this. I can never quite understand why so many who argue for Polanski in this matter have such little grasp of the facts of the case.
Why are so many defending a jerk who raped a 13 year old girl anyway?
Search for the blog « interested participant » look at the women with troubles segments and check out the sentences that many of them receive. America’s desire to waste resources on this « high profile » case is in direct contrast to the US desire to do justice when it is a favored gender or person. I for one don’t defend Polanski in spite of his deeds, I defend him because the US courts are VERY hypocritical when it comes to fair and impartial application of the law. How else can one view a system whereby a woman rapes a boy repeatedly for years and gets probation, yet here, millions of doallars are being wasted on a case in which: 1) Time was already served 2) everyone, even the victim say the case should be closed and 3) where the victim has already said that rehashing this over and over is doing more damage? It is politics plain and simple. Justice, has never been a part of this.
because the only reason this is an issue today, is so that a politician can get « herd » support for his election. All those who fail to see THAT be the dominant factor in this circus, is a monkey in a cage. No different.
Don’t worry Roman, I’m sure you will find the inmates of a US prison more than happy to introduce you to the little shop of horrors you visited on that young girl and dismiss with much aplomb. They are quite good at this type of thing, better than you I expect, as they won’t need to ply you with ludes and booze. I’d advise you stay relaxed, tensing up is only going to make it hurt more. Enjoy!
I’m sorry to hear. Are you alright?
She was 13 years old and told him repeatedly « No », « Please stop ». She was afraid of him, because she was alone in the house with him, and she was dependent upon him for her ride home.
He performed cunnilingus without her consent, then penetrated her with his penis. After determining that she wasn’t on the pill, he proceeded to have anal intercourse with her without her consent.
If that doesn’t sound like rape to you then I suggest you move up from the sixteenth century.
Please provide the link to the medical transcripts that you cite. I couldn’t find any such thing on the Smoking Gun (and I looked), but I didn’t find the transcript where she describes exactly what took place. It was rape, plain and simple.
Polanski is, by her testimony, a child predator. He chose to leave the country rather than serve time in prison. If you think 45 days is sufficient sentence for a child predator who raped a 13 year old girl, then I suggest you have some female offspring and offer them up to service your non-rapist paramours.
Or get your head out of your ass and admit the truth. Polanski raped a 13 year old girl.
Mr. Polanski you ask to be able to live in freedom in your native land.
Well you can, just get your native land straightened out.
And if you want to go back to the US you can as well, just be prepared to face the music that you have avoided for 30 years.
No means no! Even for Roman Polanski! Rape is a crime because a rape victim NEVER recovers from the incident. Rape is a crime and 112 days in detention is hardly a sentence. Mr. Polanski is a sex offender and should register as such in the United States and be adjudicated for his crimes to the fullest extent of the law!
The D.A. of Los Angeles needs publicity? That is the final insult! D.A. Cooley is a serious well-known crime fighter who has been re-elected again and again because he is TOUGH ON CRIME!
You broke the law Mr. Polanski and you took something away from Samantha Geimer that she can never reclaim. It is called HER INNOCENCE! In the eyes of the law that make you A CRIMINAL! No matter how much you want to manipulate Ms. Geimer, the LAW IS CLEAR!
Justice is coming your way and rather than try to attack the credibility of the District Attorney, why don’t you take a good look in the mirror and wait for the monster to stare back at you. Because that is what you are!
My condolences, but it’s important not to project.
You people who are supporting this rapist should be ashamed of yourselves. I can’t wait to see him carted away to prison. He should consider himself lucky because if it had been MY daughter he’d have been dead years ago.
All true, Mr. Polanski only raped her a little bit.
Oh, please…… you are old enough to accept responsibility for your actions and to know the world isn’t subjectively fair. Stay where you are or come back and face the music like the man you once thought you were.
I also agree with Mr. Pistelok. 42 days for sodomizing a 13-year old girl after giving her drugs and alcohol. It was a travesty of justice to begin with! Any man in the US accused of -not even proven to- molesting a minor is immediately arrested (unless he is a catholic priest, of course). I can hardly believe Mr. Polanski is still trying to defend himself. He has no shame.
It should be noted that there were additional aggravating circumstances. This was no accident. He lured the young girl away from her parents with a story about taking photographs for Vogue magazine, exploited the employer/employee relationship, plied her with alcohol and drugs, and then attacked her in a friend’s hot tub and bedroom when she was vulnerable.
I also don’t want to visit USA. They think they have right to voyeur my private life. I will feel myself a sexual slave there.
America doesn’t have democracy. In North Korea it is easy to be imprisoned for forbidden literature. In US they imprison everyone who have nude child photos. So what is the difference. Watching photos is not crime. It’s just state censorship. No freedom in US. Discrimination which lets homosexuals and zoofiles enjoy their sexual life, but makes pedophiles enemies of the state.
People don’t understand that they are told what they should do in their life. Cause US cares of their citizens private and sexual life.
what a bunch of nonsense. Where do you come up with this sort of stuff?
Defending pedophilia? You’re part of the problem.
I’m not sure anathema if you were directing that comment to HUH or to Sandra, but I don’t think that accusation is called for.
I don’t believe that, for anyone who actually understands the paraphilia disorder defined in the APA’s DSM4 would ever defend that pedophilia. Point out one person who has.
I think the only thing that remains for you to decide, Roman Polanski, is if you plan on going to your death denying the magnitude of your crime and trying to make excuses. The longer you do, the more you insure that you are not remembered as a director, but a pedophile.
Mr. Polanski gave a 13 year old girl a sedative and alcohol. Whether the girl then allowed him to have sex with her is irrelevant. She was not capable of giving consent, first because she was under the age of consent and second because she had been drugged. These crimes would likely be dealt with much more harshly today than it was 30+ years ago. I can’t think of any jurisdiction (in the US, EU or elsewhere) where Mr. Polanski’s activities would not be a crime.
Mr. Polanski’s claims of judicial misconduct should be made in court in the United States. Mr. Polanaski wants to have his cake and eat it too – he wants to argue that he was subject to gross injustice in court while not being in jeopardy if he does not prevail. The court has rightly refused to hear Mr. Polanski’s claims since he is a fugitive and refuses to subject himself to the court’s justice.
One thing I never figured out is where the sedative came from. I believe it’s realistic enough that he provided the alcohol, but I am not sure, couldn’t she have brought those drugs? What are both people’s testimony on the source of origin, I would like to know, like if there is consensus about that.
A tiny bit of wine would not make it impossible to consent, it doesn’t seem clear just how much she drank.
My support to Polanski.
Monsieur Polanski, ce texte est long, mais je ne vois pas une chose: que ça, ce que vous avez fait il y a 33 ans, a été méchant! Vous écrivez « la victime ». Aucun sentiment. Comme si une autre personne faisait ce que vous avez fait! Comment puis-je croire que vous êtes une personne meilleure qu’avant si vous seulement accusez? Je voudrais être content que Roman Polanski vient du même pays comme moi (Pologne), mais maintenant j’ai seulement honte.
What about raping a 13 year old? Do you think serving a few weeks in jail for that is sufficient punishment?
No, not if he actually raped her. Sandra, the crime Polanski is claiming to have served time for is not rape, but rather ‘unlawful sex with a minor’. He’s not claiming that the time served would be sufficient for rape, he disputes and never plead guilty nor was ever convicted of rape.
my support to you, Claudia
Polanski detention in Switzerland is first of all the kidnapping of Polish citizen and the citizen of the European Union and is legally false. The sex laws of the United States violate the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union and cannot be enforce in any form including extradition and in any part of them by any member of the European Union neither by the country seeking the accession like Switzerland. They violate the article 1st of the Charter on human dignity defining the forbidden voluntary sexual activities of adults like oral and anal sex and the article 21st forbidding adults any sex without signing the marriage license.
The code of the State of Utah says for example: 76-7-104. Fornication. (1) Any unmarried person who shall voluntarily engage in sexual intercourse with another is guilty of fornication. (2) Fornication is a class B misdemeanor. 76-5-403. Sodomy — … (1) A person commits sodomy when the actor engages in any sexual act with a person who is 14 years of age or older involving the genitals of one person and mouth or anus of another person, regardless of the sex of either participant. …. (3) Sodomy is a class B misdemeanor. 76-3-204. Misdemeanor conviction — Term of imprisonment. A person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor may be sentenced to imprisonment as follows: (1) In the case of a class A misdemeanor, for a term not exceeding one year; (2) In the case of a class B misdemeanor, for a term not exceeding six months; (3) In the case of a class C misdemeanor, for a term not exceeding 90 days.
Switzerland has an extradition treaty with the US when a crime has been committed in the US that is also a crime in Switzerland. There was an international arrest warrant out for Polanski, and the Swiss arrested and held him based on the treaty.
Polanski drugged and raped a 13 year old girl in the state of California. A 13 year old child cannot legally give consent to have sex. He was charged with seven felonies, and was only given a lenient plea deal because of his celebrity. He failed to adhere to his side of the plea deal, and he has been a fugitive for more than 30 years.
It’s time for Polanski to return to the US and pay for his crimes.
It’s time for Polanski to pay the piper.
Nice try. But there is no law that decrees rape is legal.
Julie, I have no idea why you said that, AKW did not infer at all that rape is legal. Nor did anonymous in case you mistakenly responded to them.
No legal woes that Polanski encountered are as bad as what he did to that 13 year old girl. And as long as he does not serve sufficiently in jail for it there is no justice. No amount of legal bla bla bla will take away the fact that he had sex with a child and was never really punished for it. No amount of self pity that Polanski displays will take away the fact that he got away with rape. And frankly it is beyond me how Europeans don’t give two figs about the abuse of a minor. Children in Europe don’t seem to have a voice. Or is it the fact that he raped an american child? Would you be more upset if he raped a French child?
Sandra, have a glass of water and sit down for a moment. You’re putting a lot of energy into something you don’t really understand…or you do, but at the grassroots level. Look, this whole thing isn’t about whether Mr. Polanski did or did not rape the girl. HE ADMITTED TO IT by pleading GUILTY you see. This is about the courts changing their mind after the hammer has been slammed. You know, there is a very good reason why that hammer is there. It is to signify the ultimate decision. So when people scream justice!!! etc., they’re missing the real point. Do you get it now?
(I would be surprised if you knew her name – in a live conversation).
He was inside for 42 at Chino plus 70 days on Swiss remand, which have to be counted towards any sentence. Besides, the medical findings, available on smokinggun, discredit ‘anal rape’ and forcible rape entirely. He didn’t rape her or anyone else; there’s no such thing a ‘one-time rapist’, and she had later said in interviews, and I quote: « He had sex with me, he wasn’t forceful or hurting me or mean or anything. » That doesn’t sound like rape.
The prosecution had no case of rape from the start, that’s why they didn’t have a trial and handed him the plea bargain on the mother’s pressure, the media-obsessed judge then rescinded on against all counsel. All her claims have never been impugned in a proper cross-examination and therefore are NOT proven fact. THAT’s the facts, and Polanski has a perfect right to defend himself against such lies the LA courts have given the Swiss.
He gave drugs and alcohol to a girl whom he knew was only 13 years old. He has admitted it. He has also admitted that he had sex with her after he had her drugged and drunk. She says he raped her orally, vaginally and anally. Investigators found his semen all over her underwear. He was charged with seven felonies and plead guilty to one on the condition that he be evaluated in a prison psychiatric facility for 90 days and come back before the court for sentencing. He was released from the psychiatric facility after 42 days and immediately went overseas and was photographed drinking at a festival with several young girls. When he returned to the US, he found out that the judge knew about his escapade overseas and was considering putting him back in jail. Polanski KNEW that the deal was not final until he showed up in court for his sentencing, yet he fled the country because he was afraid the judge was going to make him finish his 90 days. The man is a rapist and a coward.
AKW you declare he is a rapist, yet he did not plead guilty to rape, he was not convicted of it. Where is the evidence that she was drunk? You can have a tiny bit of alcohol without being drunk. Furthermore, where is the evidence of druggedness?
He sure does have the right to defend himself. And, the best place place to do that? In court. Anyone who sees this as anything but rape is delusional.
Sex with an 13 year old drugged girl is per definition rape. A girl that age is too young to give consent. So it IS rape. It is astonishing how the abuse of such a young person continues to be justified. So much for moral values. Of course the prosecution had a case. He had drugged and had sex and admitted to having sex with a 13 year old. I assume Europe does not protect its children from the likes of Mr Polanski. Very sad.
Right on, Marshal ! Have you noticed the ever-present sandra has added her ignorant comments to others’ bullshit but cannot fathom what to say when confronted with THE FACTS which you so clearly explain.
Note to sandra the BS queen commentator, puhleaaaase see the documentary « Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired ».
As the Newsweek critic justly said in June 2008 : « This deft and subtle film is a fitting tribute to a man—like him or not—whose life deserves more than tabloid headlines. » Source : http://www.newsweek.com/id/138382
ah yes, the Documentary. The last (and only) resort that Polanski’s supporters turn to in an effort to reinstall him back on his pedestal. You may note however that much- MUCH of that « filmmaking » (and by filmmaking I mean unequivocal biased propaganda) has been discredited. I’ll leave you to do some research, though I know full well that you won’t. Your illusions are just too important for you. So, never you mind now, Polanski is a hero who will save the world, and no one can ever take that away from you.
Thank you, Marshal.
See people…these are facts. Not things you heard in your mind, but facts. Stop jumping on the bandwagon and projecting your feelings on rape, where people get really hurt; beaten, tortured, terrorized, threatened to be killed, often time killed indeed. Rape is rape you may say, but consider the weight and implications of those words vs. and I quote: “He had sex with me, he wasn’t forceful or hurting me or mean or anything.”
and yes, that is verbatim
Just saying.
Ah, Bart. This is desperate. Did she say « I wanted it »? or « It was OK, I told him yes »? No, she was simply saying that he « wasn’t forceful or mean. » (Because, you don’t have to be when you’ve drugged someone into submission. » This is what a 13 year-old would say. Or a girl that has been taught not to makes waves, or is trying to find the good in someone who took advantage of her. BTW, you’ll see this a lot with young victims who had established even a shallow level of trust with their perpetrators. It’s a way they can understand what happened to them, that the person isn’t really « mean, » that the world is OK and bad things don’t happen.
La Suisse à la botte des Etats Unis va je l’espere retrouver la voie de la raison.
I believe myself that main reason that Roman Polanski is being kept under Swiss/USA arrest is his latest movie « The Ghost Writer », which clearly shows what is going on in politics of GB and USA today and who actually is at power in those countries. And this is a very inconvenient truth and a very sad information for democracy.
oh please. The reason the rapist Polanski is being stalked is because he fled the country when it became clear he had to serve more than a few weeks for raping a 13 year old. The ghost writer is good entertainment but nothing earth shattering.
that tinfoil hat looks great on you.
Roman Polanski it’s ok!!!
According to public information M. Polanski remained in jail for 42 days! Does he himself or anybody else believe that this would be a fair penalty for anally raping a 13 year old girl? M. Polanski seems to have no reason to consider himself treated unfairly.
I agree with Mr. Pistelok. Mr. Polanski’s statement is a pathetic attempt to deny the magnitude of his crime (raping a minor) & continue to avoid justice. I’m not sure of the average sentences for such crimes in the U.S., but ten years in general population sounds about right to me. I admire Mr. Polanski’s talent as a filmmaker but have absolutely no sympathy for a man who has never expressed genuine remorse for his actions.