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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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31

Polanski Victim Wants Case Dropped

Samantha Geimer asks court, media to leave her alone

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(Newser) – The woman who was raped by Roman Polanski when she was 13 wants the charge against the fugitive director dropped. Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor but fled before sentencing. He's in custody in Switzerland and Samantha Geimer, who lives in Hawaii, is under seige by the media, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The onslaught by the international press corps has negatively affected Geimer's health and work, and she's concerned that the fallout could make it less likely that other victims of crimes committed by celebrities will come forward, her lawyer said. "This statement makes one more demand, one more request, one more plea," he said in a filing with the California appellate court overseeing the case. "Leave her alone."

Samantha Geimer, shown arriving at the premiere of the HBO documentary
Samantha Geimer, shown arriving at the premiere of the HBO documentary "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" in New York, May 6, 2008, has asked that the charges against the director be dropped.   (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)
Roman Polanski arrives for a screening of
Roman Polanski arrives for a screening of "No Country For Old Men," at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, France, May 19, 2007.   (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
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31 comments
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Yourself
Oct 26, 09 5:41 PM CDT
Though i agree with the fact that we need to bring Roman Polanski to trial, I agree more with the victim. If her pleas fall on deaf ears, then don't be shocked that more victims, either now or in the future, don't come forward for fear of being harassed and terrorized by the press. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
plstyle
Oct 26, 09 7:05 PM CDT
He was already bought to trial. Its no longer a question of what the victim wants, the sodomizing rapist needs to go to prison. Then he can go to hell.
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IN RESPONSE:
I_hate_to_say
Oct 26, 09 8:58 PM CDT
Yes, the girl involved was 13 years old. In many cultures around the world this is a "woman" who is capable of being given by her parents in marriage. Countless such "women" become mothers in all parts of the world every day. Apparently, this 13 year old's mother thought her daughter was mature enough to attend a Hollywood party at the home of Jack Nicholson on her own. One of the reasons Polanski may have agreed to plead guilty 30+ years ago (he was never FOUND guilty) may have been to spare the "child" and her family the trauma of a public trial. HE WAS NOT GIVEN A TRIAL. He waived his right to a trial by jury based on an agreement with the State of California's law enforcement officials. If he is brought back to the US he should have the right to one, because it is clear that the prosecutors tricked him into pleading guilty with a deal for "time served" plus fines, restitution, community service and probation. But because Polanski heard that the crooked California judges were going to repudiate the plea agreement and send him to prison, for better or worse Polanski chose to go into a life- long exile from America, no small financial sacrifice for the director of "Rosemary's Baby." Now, anyone who feels Polanski has not performed service to the community and the world should rent his movie "The Pianist" for which Adrian Brody won the Best Actor Oscar. I watched it again recently and was overwhelmed by the same kind of feelings I had when I forced myself to watch Schindler's List. I cannot think of a better way for Polanski to repay part of his karmic debt (to humanity) than to conceive of and then work tirelessly for years to create an artistic masterpiece like "The Pianist." Both of those films on the holocaust should be required viewing for any offenders sentenced as a result of violent crimes, especially domestic violence and hate crimes, in my opinion. In any event, the victim is making it clear that she does not want her abuser brought to trial because the ordeal of such a spectacle could easily ruin her life and health. No purpose whatsoever will be served by the spectacle of a trial for Polanski. If he is brought back the charges for "unlawful flight" should be dropped, and the original plea agreement should be implemented with all deliberate speed and as little delay as possible. There are so many more important things for California's criminal justice system to be doing, and for all of us to be giving our time and attention to.
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IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Oct 26, 09 8:59 PM CDT
That argument cuts both ways. Iif the prosecution stops because the victim has been intimidated into requesting the charges be dropped, the future victims will feel the same pressure. If the prosecutors decide based on the merits of the case and severity of the crime, then pressure on the victim won't matter, and no one will hound her. The prosecutor's office is where the news is.
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IN RESPONSE:
plstyle
Oct 26, 09 11:08 PM CDT
@i hate to say; Aww poor mr. Polanski, hes such a victim.. You say that theres other things the CA justice system should spend its time on... Will I gotta ask you, if child sodomizing rapist shouldn't be a top priority, what should? People going 5 miles over the speed limit? People with tinted windows? oh, i know, those little bastards selling lemonade without a business license, right??
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