Roman Polanski Testifies in US Extradition Request in Polish Court
The filmmaker fled the United States in 1978 after being convicted for having unlawful sex with a minor
Greg Gilman | February 25, 2015 @ 7:03 AM
Last Updated: February 25, 2015 @ 10:11 AM
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Oscar-winning filmmaker Roman Polanski testified in Poland on Wednesday during a hearing to explore a United States extradition request stemming from his 1977 conviction for having unlawful sex with a minor.
NBC News reports that the court could not come to a decision on the matter, however, because additional documents submitted by lawyers for the “Rosemary’s Baby” director still needed to be considered.
“The proceeding will not be finished today,” judge Dariusz Mazur said.
If the court rules in favor of the U.S. request, the case will be passed on to Poland’s justice minister, who will make the final decision as to whether or not the country will extradite Polanski to American authorities.
Polanski fled the U.S. in 1978 after pleading guilty to having sex with 13-year-old Samantha Gailey (now Samantha Geimer). His plea deal was part of a larger deal that saw additional rape charges dropped. Before he was scheduled to go to jail, the filmmaker fled the U.S. for France, where he’s lived since.
The filmmaker, who most recently directed “Venus in Fur,” was arrested in Switzerland in 2009 on a U.S. warrant and placed under house arrest. Swiss authorities decided not to extradite him, however, and he was freed in 2010.
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"Arrested Development." The cherished cult sitcom, which was canceled by Fox in 2006, has found new life in the form of a fourth season on Netflix. When the show's fans found out about the revival, many of them became so excited that they almost blue themselves.
