Ein Kommentator schreibt – „In diesem Land kümmert sich eben keiner um Kinder!“
Die Diskussion: Warum JETZT, so spät, die Verhaftung Polanskis? Mutmaßungen reichen von „Kalifornien braucht Geld“ bis –
dass es ein skandlös vertuschter Skandal sei,
dass sich Dreizehnjährige in Jack Nicholsons Villa aufgehalten hätten, um von einem Kinderschänder namens Polanski mißbraucht zu werden. Und was für ein Mensch dies sei, sich ´nach einem Jahr schuldig zu bekennen, und dann zu fliehen…Und:“Recht gilt für jedermann!“
Legal Expert Says Roman Polanski Arrest ‚Doesn’t Make Any Sense‘
Attorney Vows to Fight Extradition as Others Look for Ulterior Motive
By SARAH NETTER
Sept. 28, 2009
241 comments Font Size
As director Roman Polanski’s lawyers vow to fight his extradition from Switzerland, they and others have raised questions about why he was arrested now, 32 years after he committed statutory rape.
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The director is held in Swiss custody for possible extradition to the U.S.“This type of expense of valuable resources, both financial and some political chips that are being cashed in, really doesn’t make any sense unless you’re talking about a child predator“ with repeated predatory behaviors, UCLA law professor Peter Arenella told ABCNews.com today.
Arenella, who has no connection to the Polanski case, said he’s watching it closely and trying to read between the lines to figure out why a three-decade-old statutory rape conviction was worth an international manhunt.
While Arenella was quick to note that he did not condone Polanski’s 1977 tryst with a 13-year-old girl, being a father to daughters himself, he questioned why Polanski suddenly became such an object of interest for the Los Angeles district attorney’s office at a time when the state of California is particularly cash-strapped.
„If a prospector was thinking about justice … and going after a one-time offender from 30 years ago involving statutory rape … [it] doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense on its own merits,“ he said. „That suggests something else going on here that the public doesn’t know about.“
But an official familiar with the case had little sympathy for Polanski, pointing out that he raped a 13-year-old girl, pleaded guilty to a charge and then chose not to face imposition of whatever sentence a court was going to set. As the offender, the source said, Polanksi does not get to determine his punishment — the legal system does.
Related
WATCH: Polanski’s Victim Speaks About RapeFrench Official on Polanski Arrest: ‚Scary America … Has Just Shown Its Face’WATCH: Polanski Arrested in SwitzerlandPolanski fled the United States in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with Samantha Geimer after plying her with champagne and Quaaludes at the home of actor Jack Nicholson.
For now, Swiss authorities have maintained that they were acting on a request from the United States to bring a fugitive to justice. Polanski was arrested after walking into a trap at the Zurich airport on his way to receive an award at the Zurich Film Festival.
French attorney Herve Temime vowed today to fight Polanski’s extradition.
„He wants to struggle, and I think it will be possible for us to maintain his freedom,“ the lawyer told „Good Morning America“ today, adding that Polanski and his lawyers were shocked that the Oscar winner was arrested after walking into a trap at the Zurich, Switzerland, airport.
Polanski, 76, has been avoiding the United States and countries that have extradition agreements with the United States since 1978. Then a powerhouse Hollywood director, Polanski continued a fruitful career in Europe and had been known to visit Switzerland frequently, reportedly owning a chalet there.
„I’m very shocked by the demand of extradition because, you know, this case has been a very long time — 32 years — and during this time, Mr. Polanski traveled a lot,“ Temime said. „He couldn’t imagine that he would be arrested in Switzerland.“
Before leaving the United States, Polanski served 43 days in a California jail, where he underwent psychological evaluation. His decision to flee was rooted in fear of a long prison sentence despite taking a plea deal.
Temime is one of a team of lawyers, including Swiss lawyer Lorenz Erni of the firm Eschmann & Erni, to represent him while he is held in Zurich.
„I’ve talked with Mr. Polanski,“ Temime said. „He’s in very good shape.“
Now in her 40s, Geimer has said she has forgiven Polanski and does not want him to serve jail time.
Swiss officials are waiting on an official extradition request from the United States, but may set bail for Polanski.
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Member Comments (241)
If the people who post in Support of Roman Polanski actually read the grand jury testimony, which was posted by the Smoking Gun website, this scumbag forced the young girl to let him perform oral sex upon her, then he forced her to perform intercourse and sodomy on her. Of course after 30 years she is forgiving. All good people are forgiving. But – let’s remember the facts here. She got what was probably a pretty hefty financial settlement from Polanski. (Does Michael Jackson’s first case ring any memory bells?). Also, to those who actually think the Judge in the case was „corrupt.“ Face facts. Judges are not obligated to accept plea bargains they believe are unreasonable. Judges have, many a time in this country, thrown out plea bargains which are a miscarriage of justice –as in this case. What if it was your daughter/mother/sister? Would you want some child-rapist scumbag to go free simply because he is famous or rich? – Or because he simply managed to evade capture and be a fugitive from justice for 30 years? I know if it were my sister/mother/daughter I would want this child rapist brought back here and jailed for the remainder of his life – or 30 years (the same amount he evaded captue for).
jfishbein09 7:04 PMWe are not a country that cares about its children.
rebelblonde 7:03 PMThis will make you gag: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0610081polanski1.htmlthe girl’s statement is enough to make someone take this guy out and hang him upside down before he is shot. How dare ABC call this a tryst. forty three year old men raping this child. GAG.
moogie_101 7:01 PM
View All Comments (241)
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27.9. Polanski in der Schweiz festgenommen – 31 Jahre alter US-Haftbefehl
15 Uhr/16 Uhr –
Bundeskanzlerin Merkel, CDU,
würde gerne in ihrem jetzigen Büro bleiben:
Es sei das schönste,
in dem sie je gesessen hätte,
meldeten Mittags-Reviews…
über die Lage der Bundestagswahlen,
die nur zögerlich
angelaufen seien.
last page view: 2.472.361.
gestern: 2.729
heute: 3.024 – willkommen!
14 Uhr 10
Der Regisseur Roman Polanski,
Sohn jüdischer Eltern,
1933 in Paris geboren,
seine Eltern zogen 1936 nach Polen,
seine Mutter
kam im NS-Konzentrationslager Auschwitz
ums Leben,
wurde am Samstag
aufgrund eines 31 Jahre alten
amerikanischen Haftbefehls
in der Schweiz
festgenommen.
Er sollte heute Abend in Zürich
im Rahmen des Zürcher Filmfestivals
den Preis in Gold
für sein Lebenswerk….
erhalten….
Nachdem er sich durch Flucht aus den USA
der Strafe für die Vergewaltigung entzogen hatte,
er hatte zugegeben,
die 13jährige in der Villa von Jack Nicholson
mit Drogen und Champagner
gefügig gemacht
und verführt zu haben,
lebte er seit 30 Jahren in Frankreich:
Er besitzt seit 1975 die französische Staatsangehörigkeit.
Ist seit Ende der 80er
mit einer französichen Schauspielerin (aus FRANTIC)
verheiratet.
Zwischen den USA und Frankreich
besteht kein Auslieferungsabkommen.
Zuletzt war sein Antrag,
das Verfahren wegen Vergewaltigung gegen ihn einzustellen,
wegen eines Formfehlers gescheitert.
Er hätte den Antrag persönlich in den USA einreichen müssen.
Polanski hatte Angst vor einer Verhaftung.
Jetzt scheint ihn
das RECHT doch noch einzuholen.
Polanski ist
inzwischen 76 Jahre alt.
Seine berühmtesten Filme:
„Das Messer im Wasser“
„EKEL“, 1964,
mit der jungen Catherine Deneuve in der Hauptrolle.
„TESS“,
mit Natassja Kinski,
„Tanz der Vampire“,
„Rosemary’s Baby“,
„CHINATOWN“
und „Der PIANIST“, 2002
3 OSCARS ,
die ihm in Abwesenheit verliehen worden waren.
Seine 2.Frau,
die Schauspielerin SHARON TATE,
die eine Hauptrolle in TANZ DER VAMPIRE
gespielt hatte,
war ein Jahr nach der Hochzeit
am 9. August 1969
in einer Villa in Los Angeles
hochschwanger bestialisch ermordet
worden.
Zusammen mit vier weiteren Menschen.
Täter sollen Anhänger
des Sektenführers Charles Manson
gewesen sein.
Die Festnahme
des Regisseurs meldeten
gerade EURONEWS.tv..
und Associated Press:
Hosted by Google News
Festival says director Polanski in Swiss custody
(AP) – 1 hour ago
ZURICH — Director Roman Polanski has been taken
into custody by Swiss police on a 31-year-old U.S. arrest warrant,
organizers of the Zurich Film Festival said Sunday.
The organizers said in a statement that Polanski was detained by police Saturday in relation to a 1978 U.S. request, without giving details.
Zurich police spokesman Stefan Oberlin confirmed Polanski’s arrest, but refused to provide more details because he said it was a matter for the Swiss Justice Ministry.
Ministry spokesman Guido Balmer declined to comment.
Polanski fled the United States in 1978, a year after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.
The 76-year-old director of such classic films as „Chinatown“ and „Rosemary’s Baby“ recently sought dismissal of his case on grounds of misconduct by the now-deceased judge who had arranged a plea bargain and then reneged on it.
Polanski has lived for the past three decades in France, where his career has continued to flourish. He received a directing Oscar in absentia for the 2002 movie „The Pianist.“
Festival organizers said Polanski traveled to Switzerland to receive an award for his lifetime of work as a director.
They said Polanski’s detention had caused „shock and dismay,“ but that they would go ahead with Sunday’s planned retrospective of the director’s work.