Oscar winning film director, Roman Polanski, who recently turned 75, has asked a US court to dismiss a 30 year old charge of unlawful sex with a minor. He is best known for his films, Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown. Also, for the tragic murder of his pregnant actress wife, Sharon Tate, by the Manson Family.

In 1977, Polanski, then aged 44, became embroiled in a scandal involving 13-year-old Samantha Geimer (then known as Samantha Gailey). It ultimately led to Polanski’s guilty plea to the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, Polanski fled to France before sentencing. He now lives there and has French citizenship (France has limited extradition with the United States). He is considered by U.S. authorities to be a fugitive from justice and cannot return to the United States without risking arrest.

BBC Reports:

They said they had new evidence showing “judicial and prosecutorial misconduct” had distorted the legal process. Polanski, 75, has lived in France since fleeing the US in 1978 to avoid facing a prison sentence after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl. He was initially indicted on six felony counts and faced up to life in prison.

Since then, Polanski has been unable to return to the US for fear of arrest, and has even avoided making films in the UK because of the danger of extradition.

In 2008, Geimer stated in an interview that she wishes Polanski would be forgiven, “I think he’s sorry, I think he knows it was wrong. I don’t think he’s a danger to society. I don’t think he needs to be locked up forever and no one has ever come out ever - besides me - and accused him of anything. It was 30 years ago now. It’s an unpleasant memory … (but) I can live with it.”

I don’t think it should be dismissed. Polanski, a Leo, has an ego the size of Texas. He should either have to serve community service, or something for stealing a young girls innocence. It’s the price you pay for running away.