Roman Polanski's victim asks court to drop charge against director

The victim of Roman Polanski’s 1977 sex charge has asked an appellate court to drop the charge against the film director, saying the unceasing publicity has disrupted her family, job and health.

Since the director’s arrest last month, Samantha Geimer and her attorney have received close to 500 phone calls from media as far as Germany, Israel and Japan, attorney Lawrence Silver wrote in a statement filed Friday.

Larry King and Oprah have beckoned, and photographers have been camped outside her Hawaii home, trying to take photos or video through holes drilled in their cars and offering gifts to her children in exchange for information, Silver wrote.

“This statement makes one more demand, one more request, one more plea: Leave her alone,” Silver wrote in the filing.

Silver said the renewed media attention following Polanski’s arrest in Switzerland and the pending extradition case has caused “health-related issues” and interfered with Geimer’s job, leading to “understandable displeasure of her employer and the real possibility that Samantha could lose her job.”

He said the “lack of sensitivity” would make it less likely that other victims of celebrity crimes would come forward.

The appellate court is reviewing an L.A. Superior Court ruling that Polanski’s case cannot be thrown out on grounds of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct while the director remains a fugitive. The Los Angeles County District Attorney has maintained that Polanski has no legal standing.

Geimer, now 46, was 13 at the time of the 1977 criminal case when she told police and a grand jury that Polanski gave her a Quaalude and champagne and raped her during a photo shoot. Her attorneys at the time supported a plea deal, saying it was in the victim’s interest, and Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

He fled to France, where he is a citizen. In 1993, Polanski settled a civil suit with Geimer and agreed to pay her at least $500,000. It is not known whether the director has paid the sum.

-- Victoria Kim

Photo: Roman Polanski. Credit: Los Angeles Times archive.

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Comments

[michelle]

Well this is no longer about Samantha Geimer. Victims don't dictate the justice system. The law is the law. If she didn't want Polanski to be punished maybe she shouldn't have reported the crime in the 70's. Interesting how she thought of herself as a victim then and wanted Polanski to go to jail but now she doesn't. Polanski is a pedophile and deserves punishment. When crimes like rape are committed it is a crime against humanity, not just one person.

[Jennifer Bland]

I completely understand the annoyance.

But think of the people in prison that are innocent that are being exonerated daily - and how that disrupts their lives, their family - and children.

*See: The Innocent Project
*For Reference: Look at all the movies and media made the Sharon Tate and her friends, and a guest of the caretaker - the books - the media - know one even knows for sure who killed these people - you have no proof - same way with the Diane Downs case, that "she" shot her kids, I am so sure, those people have sat in prison for 25-40 years - innocent, and they have sister no Hawiian Home, face the facts, face the reality, face the truths, get it over with once and for all, *their is where you will find peace - must be an honor to get such calls of the media - your story is a fairy tale, compaired to innoncent people in prison. If he did it, then face up the truth of it, and what he did, tell people, to help other people, and victims and their families, you are doing yourself and your family - etc. worse harm in "hiding" than to put this man on the stand, he has run from law enforcement too long, and it is time to stand as a woman for woman's rights, and to believe in yourself, and put this man where it is he truely belongs, and let the people (jury), the courts (judges) make the decisions, that's the hard part!

Jennifer J. Bland
Arkansas
*Clergy*

[Taggart]

I'm tired of hearing about this. It's nice that Polanski's victim can forgive and forget, but whether he is prosecuted is not her decision.

[Richard Ivey]

Samantha Geimer is apparently one of the few calm people in a sea of shill voices, all attempting to take advantage of the Polanski event. Interesting how the "age of consent" issue remains unexamined.

[Whatstherealnews]

I would suggest she come to grips with her role in history and not further victimize others.

[Nova yos Galen]

The issue is two-fold: 1) he needs to have a penalty for his actions, and 2) he needs to be returned to the U.S. after having fled the jurisdiction. I'm glad the victim has forgiven him; it it is first step in her own recovery. However, he has a debt to pay to society that he has avoided for 30 years. It's too bad he wasn't brave enough to face it then. Now he has to face possible jail time when most men his age are retired grandfathers. What a pity for all concerned.

[Hello?]

No one ever said victims of rape live a sane life and know how to deal with their issues all the time. I feel for Samantha Geimer, she sounds like she needs help to truly understand and grasp what Polanski has done to her and what Polanski is now doing to the world.

Geimer has a right to want closure for herself. Polanski's closure however, is none of her business. He must face his own situation, which HE created, regardless of whether or not she feels she has a say in it, which she does not.

[Jazzmo]

Great. The child molester pays off the victim and he's supposed to walk now?

How about a little time in the can for Big Roman so he can experience a little "rape-rape" for himself? Afterall, it's "not like he's a virgin or anything".

I'm guessing we would have 100% concurrence from all the mothers and fathers of 13 year old daughters out there for that sentence!

[Robbie]

It is regrettable that the victim has come out in support of her perpetrator
due to "illness and stress" brought on by the press...

I would suggest the victim be informed her rights are being protected and compensated? ... The press can be used to see how this lady is still
a victim, most likely being pressured by Polanski's lawyers.

It is obvious she ran in to hiding years ago, and needs counseling by rape counselors. She owes no one an explanation, her behavior perhaps indicates shame/guilt while supporting her perpetrator.

Roman Polanski's crime is against the American Government for fleeing the courts, not for rape which he already has been charged.

Nothing will change until this man is brought to Justice, my sympathy goes
out to her and her mother who never needed to take on the guilt for allowing her daughter to be photographed by a prestigious magazine called Vogue.
That indeed was victimized as well.

[Bob in Santa Monica]

If she's going to keep speaking on Polanski's behalf, she should disclose the settlement agreement, and talk about that. As long as she's allowing herself to be used as an advocate for her rapist, the media have every reason to want to question here.

It would be nice if the media were sensible in their approach, and maybe followed up a little on some outstanding questions, like: Is Polanski going to be prosecuted for fleeing? Maybe the LA Times could get us some info on that?

[no more mercy for polanski]

I'm sorry for the victim -- far more than Polanski and all the polanski child-rapist apologists have ever been -- a just society simply can't always go by situations like this -- victims are often harassed by others to drop the charges. Victims are often brainwashed by their abusers and by society.

The court and the prosecutor should not relent. polanski is a child rapist and should FINALLY be held to account.

throw the book at the pedophile rapist!

[Victoria]

Clearly the memories of the rape are returning, which is causing the victim distress.

But Polanski can not get aways with skipping out of the country. For the sake of other criminals, he must be brought back to this country and face the music.

[Victoria]

Clearly the memories of the rape are returning, which is causing the victim distress.

But Polanski can not get aways with skipping out of the country. For the sake of other criminals, he must be brought back to this country and face the music.

[Robert NO longer in LA]

Can you say....BOUGHT OFF?

[2 cents]

drop the case? - he's already convicted - this is just about the sentence now

[gabbers]

I think the victim needs to remember that the person who has caused all this turmoil in her life and continues to do so is not the courts but Polanski himself. First for committing the crime, secondly for running away and writing a book about how he did nothign wrong, and thirdly - by continuing to claim that he's the victim. Ms. Geimer should realize that no one is responsible for the trauma caused in her life but Polanski. He is the only one who can subside it - by taking responsibility and facing up to his long awaited penalty. In fact - he won't ever get a long enough sentence as long as I'm concerned - he's a pedophile...we should sentence him like one.

[Heather]

I realize this is a difficult situation, but I believe Ms. Geimer would do better to stand by so many other victims who have never gotten justice. She was fortunate to have people who supported her when she reported this crime, something many never had. As for discouraging crime victims from reporting, it seems to me that it would discourage victims a lot more to know that a wealthy perpetrator could avoid punishment by jumping bail.

[Alison]

Recently, a New York State assemblyman was on trial for hitting his girlfriend with a piece of glass and pushing and shoving her. The girlfriend did not want to press charges and did not want to testify- though she did, reluctantly. She's still with the assemblyman, who was found guilty and will most likely be kicked out of the legislature.

I wonder if Polanski's victim still feels some ties to Polanski? I wonder if she has truly ever dealt with what he's done? Does she realize she's doing a disservice to victims everywhere?

Finally, in the past she's given so many media interviews in the past- to television, and to People magazine.

[Evan]

It doesn't matter what the victim says. Honestly, it doesn't ... and it shouldn't.

In our society, crimes like rape, child molestation, domestic violence, etc, aren't just crimes against the victim ... and it's not the victim who's pressing charges. They're crimes against the People and it's the State that presses charges. This is because even with the accused in custody, there is a power imbalance, and the accused holds power, whether intended or not, over the victim. So, here we have the victim asking that charges be dropped because she is being intimidated, etc.

This is little different than a battered wife begging the police not to arrest her abuser. This is why our justice system is based on laws and not, 'Gee, what do you want to do, hun?' Because someone needs to look out for victims (past, present and future) ... and that person is the Government.

The real tragedy here is that the victim has been, and is being, victimized again and again by people who apologize for a child molester and fugitive from justice because they apparently think artists are allowed to be criminally eccentric ... and because it wasn't their daughter.

[bkl]

This is just another crime that Roman Polanski committed against her. If he had served his time years ago when she was a child, she would not be the subject of interest today. The case is "The People vs R. Polanski" since his offense was against the laws of the state; it is not for her to decide whether it should be dismissed.

[Hairy Carrion]

Clearly this whole fiasco is a huge distraction for the LA Times, the DA and the public.

WE are the ones who continually victimize this victim. It's the public and the system with it's pornographic obsession with Roman Polanski and Ms. Geimer.

IF we are to examine the case over and over and over again like children learning to masturbate for the first time, then we MUST reexamine the legal misconduct of the judge as well.

Now can we all get on to more important things? Please. Like the wars, the economy, real sexual assault victims, etc.

[FRANK]

Part of the contract that she signed must specify that she has to drop the charges.

Why does she need a job? 500K is a lot of dough.

[BobbyG]

Geimer vs. Polanski is over. California vs. Polanksi is not. Justice demands that the latter case be completed. Some things in life are in fact simple.

[Chuck]

She's backed the guy a lot. More than the vast majority of rape victims would. Its good to see forgiveness, it really is. But I just wonder if her payout deal included a "speak well of the opposition" clause. Sometime settlements require the parties to but a good face on things and to whitewash whatever happened before. She has definitely been quick to say she doesn't want him prosecuted whenever the subject came up. You'd think she would just be neutral on the subject now that she is personally out of it.

[kate]

Where is your PERSPECTIVE, people?! It's been THIRTY-THREE years .. has this man been even ACCUSED of any sort of sex crime since 19frickin76? He has NOT. And if you think he hasn't been punished, where have you been in reading about his life? He has never been able to come back home. Since when is banishment not a harsh punishment? Add to this that the victim of this crime, whom you all are so up in arms about bringing justice, is BEGGING to be left in peace. My question, to all of you stone-throwers, is who do you think YOU are?

Honestly!