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Your Polanski Case FAQ

Including the big one—why now?

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 29, 2009 12:27 PM CDT

(Newser) – Scratching your head over this Roman Polanski business? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here are some common questions and answers, courtesy of Slate:

  • Why didn’t the French ever arrest the guy? Born in Paris, he's one of their own. France doesn’t have to extradite its citizens, and typically doesn’t except for especially heinous crimes.
  • Why did the Swiss do it now? Because the US asked them to, possibly spurred to do so after Polanski moved to have his criminal charges dropped in December.

  • Hasn’t the statute of limitations run out? Nope. Polanski was charged with a crime within the allotted time period. He just ran away before sentencing.
  • What’s this about judicial misconduct? An assistant DA met with the judge and convinced him to ditch Polanski’s plea agreement and send him to prison. That violated California ethics rules, which forbid judges to talk to one side without the other present.

Film director Roman Polanski is seen as he leaves court in this Oct. 25, 1977 file photo taken in Santa Monica, Calif.
Film director Roman Polanski is seen as he leaves court in this Oct. 25, 1977 file photo taken in Santa Monica, Calif.   (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)
Don't worry, Roman, we find all this a little confusing, too.
Don't worry, Roman, we find all this a little confusing, too.   (Getty Images)
Herve Temime, Roman Polanski's lawyer, arrives in a Paris court for an unrelated trial, Sept. 29, 2009.
Herve Temime, Roman Polanski's lawyer, arrives in a Paris court for an unrelated trial, Sept. 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
usualsuspects
Sep 30, 2009 1:19 AM CDT
"except for especially heinous crimes." because drugging and raping a 13-year-old is no big deal.
Mia
Sep 29, 2009 10:07 AM CDT
You should always care when a kid is drugged and has vaginal, oral, and anal sex performed on her, even as she protested in her drugged state. If you don't give a F^&k then you have no heart.
sully4411
Sep 29, 2009 7:56 AM CDT
that was so dumb. shows youv got a creepy ass imagination tho....

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US Not Giving Up on Nailing Polanski

'Rat' Polanski Deserves a Boycott

Swiss Free Polanski, Refuse to Extradite

Polanski Sexually Abused Me in 1982: Actress

Polanski Breaks Silence, Blasts Prosecutors


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