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Prosecutor: I Lied in Polanksi Film About Misconduct

Wells now denies coaching judge on how to send director to jail

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 1, 2009 1:47 AM CDT

(Newser) – A retired Los Angeles County prosecutor who told the creators of a documentary that he coached a judge on how to send Roman Polanski to prison despite a plea bargain now says he lied. David Wells—whose claims in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired sparked accusations of misconduct and were at the center of Polanski's efforts to have his case dismissed—is willing to admit in court that he made it all up, he tells Marcia Clark in the Daily Beast.

“I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I did," Wells says. "The director of the documentary told me it would never air in the States. I thought it made a better story if I said I’d told the judge what to do." Wells does admit he was the one who supplied the judge with photos of Polanski partying at Oktoberfest, causing the judge to say, "Screw the deal, he’s going to state prison." Wells' admission undercuts Polanski's probable defense and makes it likelier he'll face prison in the US.

Roman Polanski is seen in this 1980 photo.
Roman Polanski is seen in this 1980 photo.   (Getty Images)
Roman Polanski attends Che Tempo Che Fa TV Show held at RAI Studios on November 23, 2008 in MIlan, Italy.
Roman Polanski attends Che Tempo Che Fa TV Show held at RAI Studios on November 23, 2008 in MIlan, Italy.   (Getty Images)
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Look, after 30 years, I never thought they’d get the guy back here. I figured no one cared anymore, and no one here would ever see the film anyway.
- Retired LA County prosecutor David Wells

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
Spudsy
Oct 2, 2009 12:01 PM CDT
Is it any wonder OJ went free with prosecutors like this in LA. What a bunch of losers. Lying losers.
exley
Oct 1, 2009 11:56 AM CDT
ok, hold up just one moment - this fellow - an idiot, moron, impulsive little man for sure - was not the prosecutor of the case at the time nor was he in any way associated with the case. He was a prosecutor in the DA's office at the time who supposedly took it upon himself to intervene with the judge. We now know this is a lie...i guess. WTF knows. But he definitely was not the prosecutor assigned to the case, so this tidbit does not change anything as it relates to Mr. Polanski one iota. He is guilty and subject to punishment. People like this guy never cease to amaze me...shallow self centered idiots.
jagerhans
Oct 1, 2009 8:59 AM CDT
looks like there is a huge 'two-ways' morals movement in the wild. so much for the equality in front of the law. it will be difficult to explain to the next runaway pedophile rapist why he got punished when caught while polanski didn't. the message probably is that if you want to rape a child you better make yourself damn sure of being a famous movie director before, i guess. or a catholic priest.
 

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