Roman Polanski’s Lawyer Will Renew Effort to Resolve 45-Year-Old Rape Case
variety.comGene Maddaus Senior Media WriterRoman Polanski’s lawyer indicated Monday that he will renew his request to have the fugitive director sentenced in absentia, a day after a transcript was unsealed that revives misconduct allegations in the director’s 45-year-old rape case.But the path to resolving the case is not at all straightforward.
Harland Braun, Polanski’s lawyer, said in an interview that he first wants to get a new judge to handle it. Braun stated that the current judge, Sam Ohta, cannot be trusted to deal with it fairly, noting that Ohta had initially refused to release the transcript, which the defense has sought to unseal for 12 years.“Ohta is worthless,” Braun said in an interview. “Ohta is all screwed up.
I don’t trust any judge in L.A. to listen to this.” Braun said he first wants to go to Judge Eric C. Taylor, the presiding judge for Los Angeles County, and ultimately wants the case transferred to another county.
He also argued that under COVID rules, Polanski should be allowed to appear via Zoom from France, instead of returning to the U.S.Polanski has been a fugitive since fleeing the country in 1978, just before he was to be sentenced for having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.
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