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It Wasn't Rape: Sharon Tate's Sis

As Roman Polanski faces months in jail, Hollywood elite rally around him

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 30, 2009 9:56 AM CDT

(Newser) – The sister of Roman Polanski’s murdered second wife, Sharon Tate, says his crime was not rape. "There's rape and then there's rape,” Debra Tate tells MSNBC, and what happened between Polanski and his 13-year-old victim was “a consensual matter.” More from the Polanski saga:

  • Fake IDs, disguises, maybe a bad dye job? Not for Roman Polanski. His life on the lam has been one of luxury, from a penthouse in a glitzy Paris shopping district to a vacation chalet at a swanky Swiss ski resort, reports the New York Daily News.

  • His life now, however, is markedly different. The jailed director has to get by on five francs (about $4.85) a day, which he uses mainly on phone calls. If he wants extra money, he can make envelopes or cardboard boxes, the Times reports.
  • This new, decidedly less luxe life could go on for months. Though his attorney requested Polanski be released while fighting extradition, Switzerland rarely releases nonresidents. “We are talking about three, four months easily” to go through the appeals process, a prosecutor tells the Los Angeles Times.
  • Polanski does have quite the Hollywood entourage trying to make his prison stint shorter, though. Woody Allen, David Lynch, and Martin Scorsese are among those who have added their names to a petition demanding his immediate release.

Debra Tate, sister of slain Sharon Tate, speaks during a parole hearing for Manson follower Susan Atkins Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, Calif.
Debra Tate, sister of slain Sharon Tate, speaks during a parole hearing for Manson follower Susan Atkins Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, Calif.   (AP Photo/Ben Margot/POOL)
In this Sept. 19, 1977 file photo, director Roman Polanski is shown leaving court in Santa Monica, Calif., after being ordered to undergo a 90 day diagnostic study at a state prison.
In this Sept. 19, 1977 file photo, director Roman Polanski is shown leaving court in Santa Monica, Calif., after being ordered to undergo a 90 day diagnostic study at a state prison.   (AP Photo/File)
Roman Polanski and his attorney Douglas Dalton stand in a courtroom in this Aug. 9,1977 file photo taken in Santa Monica, Calif.
Roman Polanski and his attorney Douglas Dalton stand in a courtroom in this Aug. 9,1977 file photo taken in Santa Monica, Calif.   (AP Photo, File)
In this May 19, 2007 file photo, French director Roman Polanski arrives for the screening of the film No Country For Old Men, at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, southern France.
In this May 19, 2007 file photo, French director Roman Polanski arrives for the screening of the film "No Country For Old Men," at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, southern France.   (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
Polish film director Roman Polanski and American actress Sharon Tate (1943 - 1969) at their wedding.
Polish film director Roman Polanski and American actress Sharon Tate (1943 - 1969) at their wedding.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 23 comments
grassisntgreener
Oct 1, 2009 9:01 AM CDT
consensual sex with a 13 yr old ..another idiot.
BleeBloo
Oct 1, 2009 3:13 AM CDT
Oh I am going to hell for laughing at this.
Riffran
Oct 1, 2009 3:06 AM CDT
hot damn alcohol and quaaludes and it's ok to stick it to a 13 year ild???????. I heard whoopi on the veiw arguing the "It's just rape not rape rape"....Just because she was gorked on drugs and he probably didn't have to smack her around to get her to comply, IT'S STILL F-ING RAPE!!!!. he was 44 and she 13.I think....it's not rape or rape rape, its rape rape rape....(I hope that clears it up for whoopi)
 

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