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Roman Polanski raped Samantha Geimer when she was 13. Now she wants the case terminated.

In March 1977, director Roman Polanski was arrested and charged with raping a 13-year-old girl, Samantha Geimer (née Gailey).

According to her testimony given to a grand jury, Polanski had picked Gailey up in his car earlier that month and driven her to actor Jack Nicolson’s house under the pretense of photographing her for French Vogue.

After the photo shoot, she said he fed her champagne, drugged her and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

The 83-year-old denied drugging the child but admitted to having sex with her, knowing she was underage, before fleeing to France to avoid sentencing under United States law.

More than forty years on, Geimer says she has forgiven the director and wants to finally be allowed to move on with her life, but US authorities still want him to pay for his crime.

On Friday, she will attend a court hearing in Los Angeles to plead for an end to decades-long case.

“Samantha Geimer is tired of this. She has been asking the court to terminate this case for years. She wants to get it over with,” Polanski's attorney Harland Braun told Reuters on Thursday.

Braun said Geimer, who now lives in Hawaii and has three adult sons, intends to argue the French-Polish director has been punished enough by his exile, despite only ever spending 42 days in prison.

Deborah Tate, sister of Polanski's murdered wife Sharon Tate, will also attend the hearing to support him.

“Debra Tate is coming to support Roman. She hopes he will eventually get this case resolved,” Braun said.

It is not clear if they will be allowed to testify or if the case against Polanski can be dissolved without him serving more time behind bars.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office told Reuters they intend to keep fighting to have him face justice in the US, despite Geimer previously stating she does not believe he is still a danger to other young women.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. 

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Top Comments

Emilio Lizardo 7 years ago

She said that while Roman was pretty gross, what the prosecution did to her was the real crime.


Cee 7 years ago

That is her right, but I hope he gets run over by herd of buffalo wearing hobnail army boots.