Lawyer: Roman Polanski's Family 'Very Upset Psychologically'

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Nov 20th 2009 09:00AM

The wife and two children of Roman Polanski are bearing the brunt of the director's imprisonment in Switzerland as he awaits a decision on his extradition, his lawyer said in an interview to be published Friday.

Polanski has proposed "very significant" bail money, house arrest and other assurances to find freedom, Herve Temime told the daily Le Figaro. His 76-year-old client "will not accept extradition to the United States," he said.

U.S. authorities want Polanski to face justice in Los Angeles for having sex with a 13-year-old 32 years ago. A Swiss court official said this week that a bail decision was expected in 2 to 3 weeks.

Polanski, who was arrested Sept. 26 as he arrived in Zurich to collect a film award, is "very courageous" and "I have never heard him complain," Temime said.

However, his wife, Emmanuelle Seigner, an actress and singer, and his two children are "very upset psychologically by this separation that is a true heartbreak" for them, he said.

The Polish-French director has offered a second time to remain under house arrest at his chalet in Gstaad with electronic bracelet in an attempt to overturn a Swiss Justice Ministry decision to deny him bail.

"At the demand of Swiss authorities, he is prepared to offer a very significant sum of money for his financial means to back his solemn commitment" not to leave Switzerland, Temime said without naming an amount.

Temime maintained that Polanski had completed his sentence at the time, with 42 days in jail for psychological testing after being accused of raping the girl after plying her with champagne and a Quaalude pill during a 1977 modeling shoot.

The director of classics like "Rosemary's Baby" and "Chinatown" was initially indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molesting and sodomy.

Polanski pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse. In exchange, the judge agreed to drop the remaining charges and sentence him to prison for a 90-day psychiatric evaluation. He was released Polanski after 42 days. But when the judge said he was going to send him back to serve out the 90 days, Polanski fled the country on Feb. 1, 1978, the day he was to be sentenced.

Polanski's lawyer said his client did not get a proper trial.

Tags: emmanuelle seigner, EmmanuelleSeigner, roman polanski, RomanPolanski

Comments

(35)

Friday 20 November

By Jan

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Thank you Ben ! So why did I read somewhere that Roman ran because he said the judge was going to throw the book at him and give him 100 years? Even Whoopi "it wasnt rape-rape" mentioned this. If it was indeed only 90 days the man is beyond stupid and its no wonder he thinks he can now BUY his way out.

By Hesstillquilty

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He's nothing but a Child Molester and deserves to spend the rest of his life in JAIL. How would his wife like it if a 40 year old man forced sex on her child?? I don't think she would like it at all and I'm also sure that she wouldn't agree to "forget all about it" because so many years have past. He's no some sweet, talented rough. He's a CHILD MOLESTER! She wasn't the only underaged girl he drugged and had sex with. Since when is this alright with everyone? Just because he doesn't LOOK like a monster? He IS a monster!

By Ed

Ohhhh, but he's produced such wonderful films to the world. You gotta give him a break. [sarcasm intended]

By Mike

Awwww, poor babies!

By sally65

If you do the crime, then you should do the time. This was a gross miscarriage of justice for Mr. Polanski to get away with this. 90 days of which he only served 40? What a joke!

By andy

they're probably not half as upset as his agent.

By Terry

To those that are uninformed..... the girl in question wants it dropped. She has dealt with what happened. And has publicly stated that she did not want this pursued any further.

By mike

I suppose that's what happens to a person when they marry a pedophile! I suppose we should try a little harder to make the accused the victim in all this.

By larry

Sentence him and let him go to the pen and play butt darts with BIG BUBBA...That would be good for the old pervert.

By brdbrns3

Great! How upset would they be if I got him drunk, fed him a qualude, and f*cked him in his ass?

reminds me of a song from the Boondocks animated series. "Stomp 'em in the Nuts, stomp him the nuts."

By alison

I'd be psychologically upset too, if I was married to a pedophile/rapist.

That doesn't make it any less of a crime. She was 13, he drugged her, gave her alcohol and raped her. SHE WAS 13 years old. It's not her decision. He was already found guilty in court....he just ran away to Europe. Have I mentioned that she was only 13???? Disgusting old bastard.

Saturday 21 November

By Sir topham hat

You people call Michael Jackson a pedophile, Mr. Polanski is the classic example of a pedophile, white man, married, with children. Why has the media failed to make a national discussion on this topic?

Sunday 06 December

By shauna

I feel for his children. They didn't have anything to do with this and I can understand them being upset. What I can not understand is his wife. YOU ARE MARRIED TO A RAPIST! That doesn't upset you, but you are somehow psychologically damaged when he gets arrested for it? I believe you must have been psychologically damaged already to be married to the man. I hardly think his current status has anything to do with it.

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