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Roman Polanski may be a gifted director - but being a wealthy talented artist should not excuse him or minimize his crime. He drugged, raped, sodomized a 13 year old - grade 8 girl. And the man isn't just accused of these crimes - he admitted it and was convicted. I can't stomach the comments - oh well it happened 30 years ago, the justice system was being unfair, it wasn't rape-rape, she had hit puberty, he's suffering for being arrested? What is the matter with people? Whoas the poor Roman Polanski - he might have to pay for his sick evil crime. And to his defenders and Hollywood friends - I'm disgusted with your zeal to aid and protect this cause - there is no art worth having the blood of a 13 year old child on your hands.

- Lola, Toronto, Ontario

the view from north America except the movie industry is that he's done and that he's about as important as the guy without a hot dog permit

- Meridian, toronto,canada

Mr Price accuses others that they should get their facts right, and asserts that the girl was not paid off.

Fact: there was a civil case in which Mr Polanski paid an undisclosed sum to the victim. Secondly, if you were the lawyers would you not have introduced a clause in which the victim has to support Mr Polanski in the future to get the case dropped?

Mr Price refers to the "relationship" with the victim. The 13 year old girl was drugged and then raped vaginally and anally. This is not usually referred to a relationship.

Mr Polanski in a plea bargain accepted that he had sex with a minor which despite assertions to the contrary was a crime at that time in California. If it were not Mr Polanski's admittal would not have resulted in a sentence.

- Russell, Lincoln, UK

Convicted paedophile who absconded. Arrested on an international warrant. He should be sent straight to the US to face his punishment. If this was an unknown person everyone would be saying throw the book at him. WELL THROW THE BOOK AT HIM!!!

- Marky, Rainham Kent UK

If it happened to me, an unknown, I would be going to prison now if they caught me!
Why do I keep thinking about this guy as I do about Gary Glitter?
He was famous too!

- Mike Tally, London England

Yes, he was a statutory rapist and he admitted his guilt and made a plea bargain and did time, albeit quite short, based on the agreement with the judge. The judge then reneged on the deal and wanted to bring Polanski back into court and slap more time on him. So, Polanski, on the advice of friends, left the country. And, who wouldn't take off rather than stick around and become a victim of a court that insists that one pay twice for the same crime. Polanski's paid his dues and should be a free man.

- S.H. Steele, Long Valley, USA

Yes, he was a statutory rapist and he admitted his guilt and made a plea bargain and did time, albeit quite short, based on the agreement with the judge. The judge then reneged on the deal and wanted to bring Polanski back into court and slap more time on him. So, Polanski, on the advice of friends, left the country. And, who wouldn't take off rather than stick around and become a victim of a court that insists that one pay twice for the same crime. Polanski's paid his dues and should be a free man.

- S.H. Steele, Long Valley, USA

He was 40. She was 13. He gave her drugs and alcohol. And then raped her. I am shocked that so many "sophisticated" Europeans think that's OK. Or that it was soooooooooo long ago. He pleaded guilty and became a fugitive from justice. There are no statutes of limitation for this crime.
Yes. California is right to want him to spend time in prison.

- Nm, Toronto,Canada

Polanski admitted to having drugged and sodomized a 13 yr old. On what planet is this not a crime?

Having escaped justice so far is no reason to escape justice now.

There is NO acceptable defense for Polanski. NONE.

Only those who think famous people ought to be above the law would think there is.

- Astonished, Tampa, Florida

Lets clear the air here.

Roman Polanski stood accused of physically intimidating a 13 year old CHILD into taking alchohol and Quualude, then CORCING himself upon her against her will and protestations. He recieved a SWEETHEART plea deal, which he then threw in the judges face by being photographed surrounded by young women on a court approved European film shoot, and fled the country to avoid a review of the plea deal.

Frankly, the only thing that his defenders have shown me is that they consider young American girls as being worth less protection than a cheap whore.......

- Scubafreak, Colorado Springs USA

If he had been a street person, these same people that protect Roman Polansky , would be after his head. But-since he is Rich and Famous , let's let him go. All men are created equal. It is just that some are created more equal than others. In this case. you have two countries fighting for him. Switzerland was asked to apprehend him. Their extradition treaty with the USA requires it. I am sure they would have liked to stay out of it but are just honoring their agreement with the USA, as they rightly should.

- Bernard Ex Pat, Myrtle Beach SC USA

Here we go again - France appears to forget their own laws and ask others to treat their people differently because they are French. Does anyone remember the reported case within the Evening Standard titled "Horrified gran finds she’s on the ‘wanted’ list in France" reported by Georgina Littlejohn on 27.07.09. French authorities issued an arrest warrant for Deborah Dark for a drugs offence she was acquitted of 20 years ago. Polanski raped a young woman just beginning her teens - that should say it all. The French must stop this double standard and support California on this matter. Ironically, Polanski approached the authorities in the USA recently to have this matter resolved but chose not to go to California to a sympathetic judge who most likely would have given Polanski a slap on the hand rather than the fifty year sentence.

- John, London & New York City

Doesnt matter how long ago this happened - he drugged and RAPED a 13 year old girl He should be extradited and charged with RAPE of a minor. I suspect that because he has money and he is 'famous' he will get away with it.

- Bj, Sydney Australia

The actions of the mother were wrong. But the girl did not do anything wrong. She was drugged, raped and sodomised by Roman Polanski.

- Emma, London

Interesting what you say about "hebephile", Cratchet, HLC; it would thus appear that a fair number of our kings have been hebephiles. e.g. Lady Beaufort, the mother of Henry Vll, gave birth to him at the age of 14. Should either he or his father be struck from the pages of British history, I wonder.

- Croyboy, Croydon

Thirty-one years ago, when this crime was committed, Polanski was 45 years old. He is 76 years old now. This child was barely in her teens. If he is allowed to get away with this then all 45 year old men in America should be allowed to drug and rape 13 year old girls. That will not be good for young girls. Those who defend Polanski have poor arguments like Muslim girls are allowed to marry at age 12. First, this was not a marriage. Second, that is not the culture American girls are raised in. The culture you grow up in does affect the devastation that certain crimes have on your life and how you internalize them.

- Jennifer M., Burbank, CA USA

I do not know much about California law but if a charge was brought and he pleaded guilty, why is that not the end of the matter? If he has yet to be sentenced, then let that process begin in earnest. I cannot see any justification for him not being extradited, unless it is against Swiss law, in which case the US has a similar situation to that of Ronnie Bigs [who I note seems remarkably well at present].

As for administering drugs, I do not think that has any specific relevance to a 13 year old child,other than it is even more reprehensible than in the case of an adult, as drugging someone in order to have sex with them is rape anyway, as it means even an adult cannot give valid consent.

- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England

"No one seems to have any problem with the fact the the Americans can arrest a Frenchman on Swiss soil. Does America own the whole planet?"

Try reading the related articles mate. He has been arrested on an international warrant, which are both available and used by all countries, by the Swiss authorities. He now has to be found liable for extradition before he can be returned to face the trial he ran out on. The US has NOT arrested him as you suggest - that's just your anti-US bias bubbling to the surface as usual.

If the man only wanted to avoid a flawed trial at the time he should be pleased to get the opportunity to at long last put things right? Wrong. He did wrong at the time and he knows that he would be found guilty - not least of all because he has admitted to the offence. It doesn't matter what words are used today to describe what happened back then - it is the DEED that is being dealt with now, not semantics.

To the best of my knowledge (I rely on Keith Price to correct me if I'm wrong) there is no statute of limitations on skipping bail or charges of having sex with underage children.

- Rogan, Irving

But he's a celebrity, surely we have all come to realise that they bleieve they are above the law and all to often are.If highly paid lawyers can't get him off, his adoring fans will be out in force making his excuses for him excuses and creating an exclusive morality free zone.

- Frank, Dorchester Dorset

Looks like Kieth Price from Luton has some issues with people who feel it is wrong to have sex with children !!!!! Guess you think Garry Glitter and Jonathon King should be excused their crimes due to cultural differences (glitter) and time since the event (king).....your apology to the victims of such crimes is not accepted..

- Rj, england -

How could the term 'paedophile' not have existed in the 1970s?"
Sadly, you are the ignorant man, david and not me. The offence of paedophilia, in legal terms, was not on the statute books in the mid 70's in the state of california. Check it, and you will see that this is a fact. Apology accepted in advance.

- Keith Price, Luton England

He was 12 when the war ended, so whatever may have happened to him under the Nazis (Keith Price above)happened at least 33 years before his offence, and is hence hardly relevant. If a teenaged boy has consential sex with a teenaged girl, no real harm is done. But a man in his 40s with a drugged thirteen year-old?

- David Williams, bordeaux france

No one seems to have any problem with the fact the the Americans can arrest a Frenchman on Swiss soil. Does America own the whole planet?

- Neil, London, London UK

"in particular the role of the alleged victim's mother."

She's not an "alleged" victim - Polanski pleaded guilty to having sex with her when she was thirteen. That makes him a statutory rapist regardless of any contextual argument.

- Michael, London

Keith Price. You are an ignorant man. How could the term 'paedophile' not have existed in the 1970s? It was a concept with which the ancient Greeks were familiar and the word itself is made up of two ancient Greek words.

- Ted Brewster, London W1

I hope he does'nt get away this time!

- Richard, Hamburg Germany

If he had been a man and had accepted the sentence,he would have been a free man today"

There was no sentence, David, so how could he accept one ? Roman was advised by his American lawyers and counsel to book a plane ticket and fly to Euriope. Anybodt wouls have done the ame. Charlie Chaplin did.

- Keith Price, Luton England

Regardless of Polanski's transgressions, I would not want to see a situation where anybody that could make a cultural or business contribution to this nation would not wish to come here because they see England as another American State !

- Jerry, London

kieth Price - Luton - If you feel that defending a man who was convicted of drugging and forcing a 13 year old girl to have sex by stating the obvious that the term peodophile did not exist in the seventies then you're skewed view on the situation is as perverse as Polanski's preference for sex with children.........each to their own I guess you would say.

- As, London

Can someone please confirm - is a man sleeping with a 13yr old breaking the law or not and is it morally wrong. I would think so. Can it be forgiven - I don't know, it depends on your moral lines I suppose. I think if someone slept with my 13yr old daughter I would want them facing justice. Wouldn't really matter to me if she encouraged it or not - he was the 'responsible' adult and should have known better. But it is intriguing as did not the 'Prophet' Mohammed take a 12yr old wife? and did not many people in histories past do the same? Maybe it's not so clear cut after all. Also does time since the crime make it now OK. Who knows....

- Rob, London

Keith Price: 'the woman he had a relationship with' was a girl of 13 he'd just finished photographing, who he then plied with alcohol and drugs. The 'relationship' lasted one event. She does not think that he has suffered enough, she's moved abroad and had a family and is sickened by constantly being forced to remember the event and have it all brought out in public yet again when she has done her best to rebuild her life and move on. Sharon Tate's death was indeed horrific, but that doesn't excuse abusing someone else later!

- Roz, France

Keith Price, are you serious or only trying to troll this page...

Do you have a 13 year old daughters? And if so, would you allow some 30 something bloke supply drink and drugs and then have sex with them?

I don't give a damn what has happened in his life, it gives him no right to rape a very young minor.

Keith, you really need to have a look at yourself if you are condoning a peodophile because I'm sure other people are looking at your answers and wondering what is going on in your head.

- Mark, St Albans

Those who are demanding blood for this crime should look a bit into the facts of this case, in particular the role of the alleged victim's mother.

- Bloke, Lambeth

The truth of the matter is that the more money you have then the more law you can afford. Add in a bit of celebrity and you can pretty much get off the hook for any crime.

Its all wrong but that doesnt appear to matter these days.

- Junior, UK, Scotland

If he had been a man and had accepted the sentence,he would have been a free man today,but he did not and now in his later years has to accept this humiliation.
The law catches up with all of us in the end,or does it?
It will take months or years for the law to decide whether he is extradited or not.
Maybe he will get away again to produce another film.

- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy

"this person is certainly not a man."

Not onli is Polanski a man, he is one of the greatest film directors of all time. His vile abuse at the hands of the Nazis in poland as a child shaped him. He overcame the sort of tragic isolation and fear depicted in The Pianist and came out a winner. The woman he had a relationship with believes he has been punished enough by being driven out of Hollywood and the film industry for many years. She is right. If she can forgive then so should we.
Samantha Geime was never paid off, Gary. You need to gt yur facts right.

- Keith Price, Luton England

Running away sums up the kind of human this person is, this person is certainly not a man. He needed treatment 30 years ago and should not have been allowed to pay-off Samantha Geimer. Money and fame should not be used as a get out of jail free card.

- Gary, Brentwood

The attraction of an adult to a pubescent / post pubescent teen is " hebephile " as apposed to " paedophile ", either way its sickening and if Polanski were anything other than rich and famous he would and should be pilloried by society. Cosential sex between an adult and a minor is still abuse.

- Cratchet, HLC, SUNNY LINCOLNSHIRE.

I suspect that all of you in the 'forgive and forget' camp don't have daughters? She was THIRTEEN YEARS OLD, and he gave her drugs beforehand. That's abuse whether she was pre or post pubescent. The Sharon Tate murder was a tragic case, but having your wife murdered doesn't allow you a free 'go' at an underaged girl!

- Paul, London

He drugged, then slept with a 13 year old girl, when he was 31 years old, then jumped bail.
The so called men defending him obviously do not have children.
He deserves to be punished. Because he is an ageing celebrity, does not mean he is above the law.
Time never runs against the state.

- Darren, london

How many 1970s popstars could we jail for having sex with underage girls in this country? Quite a few. I can think of one much beloved rock musician who was seeing a thirteen year old when he was over thirty years older than her. If we're going to demand that Polanski is banged up for sex with an early teen, then we should raid a few home counties mansions and round up a good percentage of our domestic pop and fashion industry.

- Tony Mcmahon, London, UK

The Vicious Arrest of Roman Polanski.

Surely this U.S. warrant for Roman Polanski after more than 30 years is a vicious one that the Swiss police should reject without any further ado?
And the cunning of it all by the California prosecutor is disgusting! It is time to let him go free, I think. But no, the Americans are always unforgiving to those that cross them like Polanski seems to have done no matter whether he is innocent or not. Over 1 million bench warrants alone are outstanding just in Houston-Dallas, TX. Nationwide the US is believed to have over 5 million of such warrants for their own citizens and for folks from abroad. The French should be mad not just at the Swiss, but at the American criminal justice system that is so unjust that the US imprisons more than 2.5 million prisoners and additionally more than 400,000
foreigners from almost every nation in the world. Let Mr.Polanski now become free and not a fugitive for some prosecutor to live in glory of his capture in Switzerland and that is now so far away in time and space from Califonia and his then alleged crime of more than 30 years ago ... Forgive and forget, is what I say.
Chio, John Lenhart.

- John Lenhart, Home Counties.

The lawyers told him to get on a plane yo Europe, and he could carry on working there, and never need to return. People are also forgetting that the reason the lawyers let him walk away and the courts went along with this was that the California law enforcers failed him drastically when his wife was butchered by the Manson mass-murderers a few years before.

- Keith Price, Luton England

Mr Polanski would appear to be in a situation largely of his own creation. He jumped bail back in 1978 and the authorities have somewhat belatedly caught up with him.

If there is any special pleading to be done here, it ought to be in a court back in California where this whole mess started.

- Alan Combe, London

This man is a criminal. Because he is one of their own, the media have sought to protect and justify his crime. He deserves everything he gets. I wonder how Mrs Polanski would feel if something similar happened to her daughter. She should reserve her 'outrage' for the 'travesty' that has led to him escaping justice for 30 years.

- Sheilagh, Spain

Pedophile is generally meant to describe someone who is sexually interestd in pre-pubescent children, the girl was in puberty. It is not correct to look just at the age of the girl because humans mature at different rates so should might have seemed to be leagally of age but none of that is of any value because none of us were there so it is wrong to write as if we were. It is a 31 year old case, the woman involved wants it quashed as does Polanski. It's just weird that he's been detained now. That's as far as comment should go on this matter.

- Nu, london uk

The reason he wasn't detained before now in Switzerland is that the Swiss, who have grown rich partly on moneylaundering and protecting criminals, have only recently had a crisis of conscience and don't want to be seen to be the safe haven the country once was. It is only recently tha they have formalised extradition arrangemen ts internationally.

- Nigel Guest, Gloucester

If she was 13, it doesn't matter if she consented, as it's statutory rape regardless. And this was certainly the case in the 1970s, for all the semantic quibbling over terms like "paedophile"

In any case, Polanski gave her drugs before this "consent" was granted, so quite how much value it had even without the age issue is a moot point. The prosecution would certainly make mincemeat of it if it was used as the plank of a legal defence.

- Michael, London

I'm astonished at the number of men who suddenly think paedophilia is ok. It seems that we have amongst us best-selling authors and French politicians who are willing to provide excuses for men who like having sex with children.

- Ellie Proudfoot, Berkhampstead, UK

I've never actually discovered what the circumstances of the "rape" were. Was he charged with statuary rape? Which under Califonia law would encompass anyone having sex with a minor with their permission? I don't believe you can make a judgement call as the facts are never presented properly in this case.

- Bob, Cheam

"This man is a "convicted peodophile" -

er...no he's not, As
The term didn't even exist in the seventies. All he and Jack Nicholson were doing was having sex with the groupies who were chasing themall over the place. The girl has said that people should keave him alone, as she wasn'hersel who is now narried with three kids, t raped and it was consensual from her side too.

- Keith Price, Luton England

of course he should stand up and be questioned/tried/punished. She was 13 for god's sake, and back in 1978 that meant something !

- Joanna Carling, london england

As I recall he confessed to having sex with a 13 year old girl. That makes him a paedophile. If he wasn't (a) rich and (b) a lovey everyone would be baying for his blood.

- Paul, London

I question why he wasnt detained in Switzerland before now, he has a house there. Would anyone accept this if it was their 13 year daughter or some drifter who commited the crime.

- H, London, UK

So let's get this right. A 45 year old man has sex with a child, gets to live a jet-set life for 30 years after this, has the art world lionisng him for years, and it is somehow 'disgusting' for him to be forced, finally, to answer to his crime?

Will Harris be speaking up for any other pedophiles?

Polanski should have spent 50 years behind bars. It's time for some (albeit curtailed) justice.

- Joe Soap, London

This man is a "convicted peodophile" - who did a runner before doing the just and due sentence. So what if take another state 30 years to detain him - Well done the Swiss for arresting him. Hopefully now he'll serve the time due for drugging and raping the 13 year old victim.

- As, london

He ran away from the crime 30 years ago and when he should have been punished then. It is never too late to pay for your crimes. He shouldn't get away with it just because he is famous

- Kim, Lancing, West Sussex

Novelist Robert Harris said, speaking of the Swiss authorities,
"If he was such a wanted criminal why did they let him own a house and travel back and forth freely?"
Switzerland has some of the biggest criminal in the world living there, including most of the Russian Mafia (when they're not in London!). The residential qualification?
...Wealth!

- Croyboy, Croydon

The man is a disgraceful pervert and any Pole who tries to defend him is a hypocrite given the usual draconian measures that the Polish establishment wants to mete out to paedophiles (which surely Polanski is).Why is Polanski so different, normally Poles demand chemical castration for paedophiles. Is it because he is one of the few famous Poles around?

- Evan, Leeds

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