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Polanski’s health ‘failing’ in prison
12 Oct 2009Supporters of Roman Polanski raised fears about his health today as doctors visited the cell where he is being held on a child sex charges.
Lawyer Herve Temime said the film director was on medication and in a “bad way” as he awaited possible extradition to the US to face trial for allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
“He's a 76-year-old,” said Mr Temime. “His health is a real worry.” Family and friends of Polanski, whose films include The Pianist and Rosemary's Baby, can visit him for an hour each week.
A decision on possible extradition from Switzerland is likely to be made in the next few weeks.
Reader views (8)
The fact that the victim forgave him doesn't mean he should esccape justice. That's her way of dealing with it, but when did any western legal system involve the victim deciding on the verdict/ punishment? I also don't remember him being a perfect gentleman when he started sleeping with another teenage girl (N Kinski) shortly after this attack. Not unless your idea of a perfect gentleman is Gary Glitter.
- Anders, London, UK, 15/10/2009 18:00
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He admitted to it in court, ran while waiting sentence, HAS NOT PAID his debt to society, brings the Press in every time the Police get close, to destroy this young ladies family and life, but some think this is alright. He owes jail time, let him serve it. It's no ones fault, but his own, should of served the time back in the 70's, better yet, should have kept his pants on back then. No pity on this end for him.
- Space, Bisbee, USA, 15/10/2009 14:03
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"He has been framed and betrayed by a legal system that is more concerned with retribution, not justice."
Good grief man, what do you think 'justice' is in society? It is punishment. It is retribution. There is no statute of limitations for his crime.
The police can’t be everywhere. They can’t arrest someone ‘just in case’. They can only punish people for what they do and advertise the fact to other wrong-doers as a deterent. This paedophile sodomite side-stepped justice & got away with it for a long time. Now comes the reckoning, if natural justice is served. Now comes the time when others witness the fact that he didn’t get away with it.
Like-minded pervs may not now sense encouragement that they too can get away with it, or perhaps quote this in case law as mitigation for their own misdeeds, even if well-heeled and 'connected' as he is.
To woolly-minded apologists all. You think the quality of his films or the length of time he has eluded justice somehow excuses his actions? Films are fantasy. This is reality.
The only people framed and betrayed by the legal system are those who expected of the authorities that perverts like this guy get their JUST deserts. What has he been up to all these years? Paedophiles are not usually one-time offenders, especially if they’ve gotten away with it before, so further investigation maybe? Hey, ‘squeaky clean’ would help at his trial and sentencing – though I wonder if such people would welcome such an investigation!
- Rogan, Irving, 15/10/2009 04:57
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Can I again indicate that the young women public forgave him, accepted generious compensation and moved on with her life. For the next 40 years, Mr Polanski has behaved like a perfect gentleman. In any common sense system of justice, that should count in his favour.
Unfortunately, we live in an age of biggoty, as evidenced from some of the comments on these pages..
- Clive Allen, Brighton, UK, 14/10/2009 20:41
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Allegedly committed a crime. He admitted it. Tell me Clive, if I sexually attacked your teen aged daughter after drugging her, and then fled the country, would you forgive me if I didn't do it again for years?
Why were any of the Great train robbers pursued? Most behaved themselves after their big score. When you flee before your sentence is served, you should be held accountable when ever they catch you.
- Ray, gurnee, USA, 14/10/2009 19:04
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Dear Clive, Polanski has never served the time for an appalling crime that he admitted and that he was convicted for. That’s not justice. The fact that he has made a couple of decent films doesn’t entitle him to one free child-rape. It's the victim who has been betrayed, both by him and by the legal system.
- Anders, London, UK, 14/10/2009 12:50
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He has been framed and betrayed by a legal system that is more concerned with retribution, not justice.
Polanski has enriched world culture with his great films.
I argue that that after 40 years of exemplary behavour, it`s time to release the guy.
- Clive Allen, Brighton, UK, 13/10/2009 23:47
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Oh good grief!
Standard ploy #101 to get out of prison - failing health. The Swiss are well known for their inhumane treatment of their judicial victims, I know, but he'll probably survive until the hearing. Mind you, any time now I expect to start seeing pictures 'smuggled out of prison' of this admitted paedophile lying in bed at deaths door - the only cure for which would become apparent the instant of his release on bail (just moments before he went on the run again).
- Rogan, Irving, 13/10/2009 07:07
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