Polanski bid backed by victim
Roman Polanski’s rape victim has backed his bid to unseal court documents that could quash an active U.S. warrant for his arrest.
The 83-year-old Oscar winner has been wanted by American authorities for almost 40 years, after fleeing the U.S. following his 1977 conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with Samantha Gailey, now known by her married name of Geimer, who was 13 years old at the time.
Last week, Polanski’s lawyer, Harland Braun filed a motion in Los Angeles County Superior Court that could prove his claim a nowdeceased judge overseeing his case reneged on a plea deal stipulating he would only serve a maximum 48-day sentence. He spent 42 days in prison before being released on probation and going on the run.
Ahead of a hearing next Friday, Geimer has backed Polanski’s attempt to unseal the transcripts, saying she believes his account of his dealings with the California District Attorney’s office.
“I think they should release it. I think the only reason they’re keeping it sealed is to cover up their own misconduct in the DA’s office and in the court,” she told TMZ.com, adding, “I’m all for the truth coming out.”
Geimer, now 52, added, “He’s apologized, I forgive him. I know that he’s sorry and that he didn’t mean to hurt me and he’s admitted what he did, he went to jail and I’m not going to carry a bunch of resentment and much worse things happen to people.”
Since fleeing the U.S., Polanski has mostly lived in Poland and France, both countries where he holds citizenship. U.S. authorities have launched multiple attempts to extradite him. In 2009, he was imprisoned in Switzerland, only for officials to reject U.S. prosecutors’ request for extradition.
Lawmakers in Poland, the country of his birth, have also attempted to place him in U.S. custody, but in December last year, judges ruled he could not be sent back to the U.S.
If the upcoming hearing goes Polanski’s way, it would free him to return to America and to countries with extradition agreements with the U.S.
According to TMZ, The Pianist director wants to bring legal proceedings to a close in order to visit his actress daughter Morgane Polanski in the U.K. and the California grave of his wife, Sharon Tate, who was murdered by followers of cult leader Charles Manson in 1969.