The amount of sympathy Polanski gets blows my mind. There are lots of sex-related criminal cases out there with a lot of gray areas. This is not one of them.
I agree, CC, and it's a great article, rips to shreds all the tripe out there trying to exonerate Polanski. I'm glad he's arrested and I want him to have a fair trial. I do feel for the victim, though; I know it's not going to be easy for her.
I don't understand why people talk about his getting a trial. Dude pleaded guilty to the most minimal charge against him (statutory rape, or what CA calls "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor"). He ran away before he got sentenced. All that's left to do once he is brought back to the U.S. is to sentence him and have that sentence carried out.
I agree with you and ms. kitty, but there is one point you could clear up- I was wondering about the statute of limitations. What was the arresting charge, that it was still valid after that length of time? I've never been clear about how that works.
There's no SOL issue because Polanski was charged and convicted promptly after the crime was committed. The SOL applies only to that part of the process, not to sentencing.
My understanding as a non-lawyer is that the statute of limitations requires the state to make a formal charge within a certain period of time. He was charged 30 years ago and remains a fugitive from justice awaiting sentencing. Time spent fleeing the law does not count toward the statute of limitations.
Because of a recent ton of spam and weird insulting comments from a brand-new poster, I'm putting in comment moderation for a bit. I'm planning to do comment moderation "Ms. Kitty Style," as in, with a very light touch and kicking only off-topic and unreasonably insulting posts.
I agree, CC, and it's a great article, rips to shreds all the tripe out there trying to exonerate Polanski. I'm glad he's arrested and I want him to have a fair trial. I do feel for the victim, though; I know it's not going to be easy for her.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why people talk about his getting a trial. Dude pleaded guilty to the most minimal charge against him (statutory rape, or what CA calls "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor"). He ran away before he got sentenced. All that's left to do once he is brought back to the U.S. is to sentence him and have that sentence carried out.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and ms. kitty, but there is one point you could clear up- I was wondering about the statute of limitations. What was the arresting charge, that it was still valid after that length of time? I've never been clear about how that works.
ReplyDeleteThere's no SOL issue because Polanski was charged and convicted promptly after the crime was committed. The SOL applies only to that part of the process, not to sentencing.
ReplyDeleteJoel--
ReplyDeleteMy understanding as a non-lawyer is that the statute of limitations requires the state to make a formal charge within a certain period of time. He was charged 30 years ago and remains a fugitive from justice awaiting sentencing. Time spent fleeing the law does not count toward the statute of limitations.
CC
PG is speedy like that.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a successful artist, people will run to your defense. If you are an unknown artist, few will care whether you live or die.
ReplyDeleteYeah homeboy needs to go to jail already.
ReplyDeleteWhy was she left alone with him for the photo shoot? Why wasn't there a chaperon or her mother there?
ReplyDeleteI don't know, but whatever the answer it doesn't excuse Polanski's actions.
ReplyDeleteNo it doesn't, but it might never have happened if they weren't alone together. Everyone would have been happier.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if Polanski hadn't given her quaaludes and sodomized her as she begged him to stop. That would have worked too.
ReplyDeleteCC
CC - thank you for KEEPING IT REAL! Come on, Kimc - I hope that was just a momentary lapse.
ReplyDelete