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LA DA Shouldn't Waste Time on Polanski

Los Angeles has more pressing problems; tragic director has been punished enough

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 28, 2009 11:18 AM CDT

(Newser) – Whether you side for or against Roman Polanski, one has to wonder why the state of California is “stalking an aging, 76-year-old man who has admitted his guilt and was long ago forgiven by his victim,” writes Patrick Goldstein in the Los Angeles Times. California’s legislature is chopping the state's prison budget and grappling with overcrowding—an especially inauspicious time for the LA County district attorney's office to be spending some of our few remaining tax dollars seeing if it can finally put Roman Polanski behind bars."

Though Polanski’s crime is “disgusting,” it certainly didn’t go without punishment. “The life story of Polanski, who was a fugitive as a boy and is now a fugitive as an old man,” is a tragedy—and “whether the LA County district attorney's office has its way or not, it is not a story that can have a happy ending. The real tragedy is that he will always, till his death, be snubbed and stalked and confronted by people who think the price he has already paid isn't enough.”

In this Nov. 14 2008 file photo, Polish-born filmmaker Roman Polanski arrives for the opening ceremony at the 8th Marrakech Film Festival in Marrakech.
In this Nov. 14 2008 file photo, Polish-born filmmaker Roman Polanski arrives for the opening ceremony at the 8th Marrakech Film Festival in Marrakech.   (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar, File)
In this  Aug. 8,1977 file photo, Director Roman Polanski is shown entering court in Santa Monica, where he entered a guilty plea to having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year old girl.
In this Aug. 8,1977 file photo, Director Roman Polanski is shown entering court in Santa Monica, where he entered a guilty plea to having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year old girl.   (AP Photo/File)
File - Movie director Roman Polanski talks with correctional officers in this Dec. 17, 1977 file photo taken at Chino Mens Institute in Chino, Calif.
File - Movie director Roman Polanski talks with correctional officers in this Dec. 17, 1977 file photo taken at Chino Mens Institute in Chino, Calif.   (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
In this Tuesday, May 6, 2008 file photo, Polanski victim Samantha Geimer arrives at the premiere of the HBO Documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired in New York.
In this Tuesday, May 6, 2008 file photo, Polanski victim Samantha Geimer arrives at the premiere of the HBO Documentary "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" in New York.   (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
cognitivefilter
Sep 29, 2009 3:22 AM CDT
next, on sick sad world
proud_prude
Sep 28, 2009 6:25 AM CDT
13 year olds die in childbirth regularly around the world in officially sanctioned "rnarriages" and the U.S. does little to prevent it. Let's get our priorities in line here. Observer is correct for a change. Few of us can identify with the kind of suffering Polanski has experienced in his life, beginning with Nazi persecution. The L.A. crirninal justice systern screwed hirn, as it has countless others. The Swiss have their heads up their asses on this one. Send hirn back to France. Listen to the victirn. It's a no-brainer.
Cprizzle
Sep 28, 2009 6:25 AM CDT
It may be somewhat red of me, but I agree that he shouldn't be shown compassion. What he did was disgusting, and not giving him justice sends the wrong message. Maybe it is harsh, but consider what he did.
 

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