Roman Polanski is getting help from his victim in a bid to have sex misconduct charges against him dismissed.
The attorney for Samantha Geimer, who long ago publicly identified herself, argued for an end to the 32-year-old case on Thursday, saying she has repeatedly said she wants it dropped.
It was a surprise courtroom request in a lively hearing where appellate justices peppered lawyers and a prosecutor with pointed questions, often interrupting their arguments to raise new issues.
The California Second District Court of Appeal is being asked to decide if it should order a lower court to consider dismissing the case without Polanski’s attendance in court. The justices did not immediately issue a ruling.
Polanski was arrested in Switzerland and is now confined to his Swiss chalet in the resort town of Gstaad, and his fate is in the hands of judges in two countries. He is fighting extradition.
Associate Justice Laurie Zelon asked the prosecutor why the district attorney’s office had not investigated recent allegations of misconduct by a judge and prosecutor during Polanski’s 1977 court proceedings.
“Doesn’t the district attorney’s office have an interest in finding out what happened here?” Zelon asked.
Deputy District Attorney Phyllis Asayama replied, “Yes, we are interested. But I’m not sure we have the proper agency to do this.” She didn’t elaborate.
