Reply #156: I realize that [View All]

[billh58]

this is totally off-topic, but I have not seen it mentioned anywhere about Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate, and their unborn child, being brutally murdered in 1969 by the Manson family. Although that incident does not excuse his criminal behavior almost ten years later, it had to have fucked up his head to some extent.

I can recall ALL of the Late-Night TV hosts making obscene jokes about Polanski's rape episode, both before, and after he fled the country. And you are exactly correct: the moral outrage being exhibited on DU now is 30-years too late for those who contributed to Polanski's success as a filmmaker over that same period of time.

In the events leading up to Polanski's flight from justice, he and the prosecutors had agreed to a plea bargain (he pled guilty to, and was convicted of, not rape, but "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor") which would have allowed him get off with "time served" (45 days). Polanski got wind that a Superior Court Judge would not honor the deal, and instead of manning up and facing the music, he bailed.

Since his victim is now refusing to testify against him, the only realistic new charges against Polanski would appear to be for "unlawful flight." Any additional charges of rape, or sexual misconduct may be negated by statute-of-limitations provisions.