Videogum Home - designed by Guilherme Rosa

 

July 17, 2008

Roman Polanski Might Use Documentary To Continue To Prove That He Raped A 13-Year-Old

thumbnail icon: Roman Polanski Might Use Documentary To Continue To Prove That He Raped A 13-Year-Old

If you watched the documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired that aired on HBO earlier this summer, then you know all about one of the (not quite the) most controversial cases in recent history. Look, I get it. Justice is hard. The judge acted improperly due to the fact that he was a total fame whore. He was Nicole Richie in robes. But there was also no doubt that Roman Polanski sodomized a 13-year-old girl after giving her quaaludes, so, you know, TOSS UP! (?)

Anyway, the New York Times today is suggesting that Polanski and his legal team might use the documentary to finally exonerate the director in the 30-year-old case, and end his permanent exile:

In the film, "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired," the former prosecutor, David Wells, describes advising Judge Laurence J. Rittenband to send Mr. Polanski to prison for a psychiatric review, though Mr. Wells was not involved with the case.

Mr. Wells also points out to the judge, who died in 1993, what Mr. Wells considered defiant behavior by Mr. Polanski. Mr. Wells, in an interview in the film, says he showed Judge Rittenband a photograph of Mr. Polanski with two girls taken in Germany before his sentencing. " 'Judge,' I said, 'Look here. He's flipping you off,' " Mr. Wells recalled.

Mr. Polanski has been a fugitive since 1978 when he fled to France to avoid a possible prison sentence or deportation.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, his lawyer, Douglas Dalton, said Mr. Wells's self-described contacts with the judge appeared to violate California law and legal ethics. At the time, Mr. Wells worked in the Santa Monica courthouse of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, but, after some initial involvement, he was not assigned to the Polanski case.

"There could be a motion to dismiss based on prosecutorial misconduct," Mr. Dalton said.

"We want to develop information about the extent of the ex parte contacts, what other communications Wells had, whether anybody else was aware of them, that sort of thing."

In general, Mr. Dalton acknowledged, fugitives have little standing to press conventional appeals. But, he said, California law would permit either a judge or the prosecutor's office to seek remedies on behalf of Mr. Polanski, including dismissal of the case, if either believed the judicial process had been corrupted.

I do think that even though he barely served any jail time, Roman Polanski has paid his debt to society through the harsh punishment of not being allowed to return to the United States. Because we're number one, you guys.

Posted by Gabe at 9:27 AM in
Tags:  |  |




2 Comments

Totally.

Posted by: SailorAlphaCentauri profile link at 07/17/08 12:50 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Now, if you could only be this hard on other pedophiles such as R. Kelly and Michael Jackson...

BTW: It's obvious Roman was set up by the girl's mother. It doesn't make the least bit of sense how Samanatha Gailey Geimer and her mother didn't want to see Roman in prison. iI someone raped your 13 year-old, I'm sure you'd want to see the person rot in prison. And not saying that Geimer was a Lolita, but she wasn't innocent, either. She knew what Quaaludes were and had already started screwing around (was that guy, or guys, ever prosecuted for statutory rape?).

The American indignation about sex crimes is serously overrated. For all the concern about protecting American kids, why are more of them getting knocked up and doing drugs at younger ages? You don't see that with Eurpean kids.

if Geimer forgave Polanski, then who the hell are you? It's seriously time to move on!

Posted by: Philly at 11/15/08 8:20 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Leave a comment


Staff

  • Founder/Editor-In-Chief: Scott Lapatine
  • Senior Editor: Gabe Delahaye
  • Executive Editor: Amrit Singh

Info

Contact

You Can Make It Up logo
Gabe loves fan fiction. You Can Make It Up features his own personal alternate adventures starring some of our favorite characters.

You Can Make It Up: People Tell Carrie Prejean What An Asshole She Is

Carrie Prejean turned the video camera off, put on some clothes, and stepped out of her house. It was a beautiful day outside. The air smelled like apples, and the late morning light hit the world in just such a...

MORE »

The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time logo
After watching Death Sentence, a terrible movie starring Kevin Bacon as a father in search of vigilante justice directed by Saw's James Wan, Gabe embarked on The Hunt For The Worst Movie of All Time. This is his sad journey.

The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time: In The Land Of The Women

If you are a sassy and sarcastic young man in an American sitcom who represents the sitcom writer's desire that a nerdy Jewish teenager can somehow be the desirable romantic hero in this world, then eventually you will get a...

MORE »

Monsters' Ball logo
This week's five highest rated comments as voted on by you, the lowest rated comment as voted on by you, and the editor's choice.

Monsters' Ball: The Week's Best Comments

I shouldn't even be here right now. I SHOULD BE GETTING INTO MY COSTUME! If I don't hurry, my facepaint won't be dry before I get to the MOONVIE theater, and everyone will be like "hahah, you look like you're...

MORE »

Double Dog logo
Blogging about TV and movies isn't all fun and videogames. Every week, Lindsay or Gabe will be presented with a physical or mental challenge that tests their bravery,patience, and taste.

Double Dog: I Took A TV Bus Tour Alone In A "Just Jack" Tshirt

The Challenge: I had to go on a 3.5 hour bus tour of totally random TV and film locations in New York City. Alone, and wearing a specific ridiculous tshirt. And I had to find someone to take my picture...

MORE »

Videogum Movie Club logo
Let's all go to the movies, and let's all see the same movie, and let's discuss it here.

The Videogum Movie Club: 2012

Uh. OK. Well, first let's address what this movie did well, like the disappointed parents we are (or at least that I am), recognizing that the negative feedback won't be useful or constructive if it isn't preceded by something positive....

MORE »