USA: 30 years on, the Polanski case in court

New page in the Polanski case. A hearing began Tuesday before a California court to determine whether following the trial of filmmaker, accused of unlawful sexual relations with a minor of 13 years, can be held without his presence at the helm. The trial started in there are more than thirty years, was aborted after the exile of the accused in Europe.

The case dates back to 10 March 1977. That day, Roman Polanski, 43 years old, Samantha Geimer seduced a girl of 13 years, during a photo session in the home of Jack Nicholson. The next day, Polanski was arrested by police on suspicion of having consumed drugs and alcohol to the girl before abusing her. It may be up to 50 years in prison.

The film, a French citizen, pleaded guilty to "unlawful sexual relations" and is sentenced to an "evaluation" of three months in prison. He spent 47 days. In January 1978, at a meeting with his lawyers, the judge suggested he will return behind bars for a further period of 48 days. Polanski takes advantage of his provisional release from prison to fly to Europe, and remains a fugitive from the eyes of American justice.

Fearful of being charged if he returned one day to the soil American director has since remained on the "old continent", between London and Paris. On several occasions, Polanski, now 75 years old has, like the victim in fact, Samantha Geimer. In vain. American justice has rejected all requests.

Today, the case is therefore before the California court. This time, the central question of the hearing will not take the charges against Polanski, but rather whether or not, the case can be tried without the presence of the filmmaker.