Culture

Roman Polanski Open Letter: 'I Can Remain Silent No Longer'

by NowPublic Staff | May 3, 2010 at 10:28 am

769 views | 14 Recommendations | 6 comments

Roman Polanski Speaks Out In Open Letter On La Regle Du Jeu

Roman Polanksi has spoken out about his U.S. extradition, breaking a long silence regarding his September 2009 arrest at the Zurich airport in Switzerland. Polanski was in Zurich to receive a life time achievement award for his extensive career as a film director.

On April 23rd a California court denied Polanski's request to be sentenced in absentia involving the 33 year old teenage sex case.

Roman Polanski was convicted in 1978 for having sex with a then 13 year old girl. Polanski fled to Europe continuing his film career and has never returned to the United States.

The California 2nd District Court of Appeal dismissed Polanski's appeal and also dismissed a petition by Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer, to have the case dismissed.

Geimer had said the case was harming her current life, and argued she should have the right to ask for dismissal under new laws that give more rights to victims of crime.

Roman Polanski Open Letter: I Can Remain Silent No Longer

The open letter has the title I Can Remain Silent No Longer - a phrase Roman Polanski repeats about 8 times, a writing device to explain his position.

Roman Polanski essentially makes the case that he was convicted and served his time and the warrant for his extradition is spurious.

I can remain silent no longer because there has just been a new development of immense significance. On February 26 last, Roger Gunson, the deputy district attorney in charge of the case in 1977, now retired, testified under oath before Judge Mary Lou Villar in the presence of David Walgren, the present deputy district attorney in charge of the case, who was at liberty to contradict and question him, that on September 16, 1977, Judge Rittenband stated to all the parties concerned that my term of imprisonment in Chino constituted the totality of the sentence I would have to serve.

Currently, under house arrest in Gstaad, Polanski hopes the Swiss will not grant the U.S. its extradition request.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Spydermonkey

at 12:21 on May 3rd, 2010

I must admit that I did not know the details of this case before now, but one quote I must include, sheds light on the matter and doubt on the claims made by California prosecutes...

It is true: 33 years ago I pleaded guilty, and I served time at the prison for common law crimes at Chino, not in a VIP prison. That period was to have covered the totality of my sentence. By the time I left prison, the judge had changed his mind and claimed that the time served at Chino did not fulfil the entire sentence, and it is this reversal that justified my leaving the United States.

Maybe the whole of this story will come out in the end.

hamilcar10 (not verified)

at 14:15 on May 3rd, 2010

Please allow me to enlighten you. He was sent to Chino for a 90-day pre-sentencing psychiatric evaluation after pleading guilty to one count of "unlawful sex with a minor." He was originally charged with six felonies including - Furnishing a controlled substance to a minor, performing a lewd act on a child under 14, rape by use of a drug, sodomy and a couple of others. The girl's parents were hoping to preserve her anonymity and spare her the ordeal of a public trial. That's why he got the sweetheart plea deal. But apparently the shrinks at Chino were so impressed with him that they released him after 42 days instead of 90. Maybe the judge was going to send him back to serve the remaining time and maybe not. We never found out because he chose to take off for France. Not surprising. Child rapist and coward are kind of redundant.

Rory Cripps

at 15:37 on May 3rd, 2010

If I were married to Sharon Tate, I'd probably be doing some pretty weird things too.

hamilcar10 (not verified)

at 16:56 on May 3rd, 2010

WTF? Sharon Tate may have been "acting-challenged." But she was a beautiful young woman, about to give birth to her first child and with every sign of a promising life ahead of her when she was brutally and senselessly murdered.. How was it her fault that she married a scumbag? If that was supposed to be funny it wasn't.