Polanski's Bid for Dismissal of Case Rejected

Lawyers for director Roman Polanski have lost an attempt to have his 30-year-old case concerning unlawful sex with a minor dismissed.

News about the failed attempt to have the famous director's case dismissed was reported all over the world, for example in the Sidney Morning Herald, but it was drowned out for a few days because of the failed attempt to blow up a passenger jet above US soil. Here's a quick time-line of what this is all about: Polanski is accused of sedating and raping a 13-year-old girl during a photo-session in 1977 He plead guilty, although not to rape but the lesser charge of unlawful sex with a minor Just before his sentencing hearing in 1978, he flees the United States and starts living in Europe. In September 2009, Swiss police detain him because of an international warrant, and there's the possibility of his deportation to the US Polanski fights this in court, is freed on bail, may live in his Swiss home but cannot leave the country He tries to get his case dismissed in the US because of alleged mishandling of the case in 1978 The California court of appeal does not dismiss the 32 year old case (in Dec 2009). This means that once again it may become possible that Polanski will be extradited to the US, where he may have to face the court for a) the 1977 crime and b) becoming a fugitive from justice in 1978.