Movies
Roman Polanski takes libel case to Lords
Published Thursday, Nov 18 2004, 10:40 GMT | By Daniel Saney
In 1977 legendary film director (The Pianist), actor (Zemsta) and writer (Frantic), Roman Polanski pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. Just before sentencing Polanski fled to France from where, as a French citizen, he could not be extradited.
If he steps foot in Britain he runs the risk of being extradited to the US and being convicted for his 1977 crime. Therefore his lawyers yesterday asked the Law Lords for a ruling which would allow him to sue Vanity Fair magazine for libel without being present in court.
The case has arisen due to an article published two years ago in which the magazine alleged that Polanski propositioned a woman in New York whilst on his way to the funeral of his eight-months pregnant wife who had been murdered. Polanski denies the incident happened.
Now Polanski wants to be the first person to give evidence remotely in a libel case. His request initially succeeded in the high court, but this was overturned in the Court of Appeal. As Jonathan Parker LJ said: "The court should not be seen to assist a claimant who is a fugitive from justice to evade sentence for a crime of which he has been convicted."
Yesterday Polanski's lawyers argued for his claim using Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to a fair hearing. Should the request for video conferencing be denied, he hopes to be allowed to give evidence by written statement.
The hearing is expected to finish today.
If he steps foot in Britain he runs the risk of being extradited to the US and being convicted for his 1977 crime. Therefore his lawyers yesterday asked the Law Lords for a ruling which would allow him to sue Vanity Fair magazine for libel without being present in court.
The case has arisen due to an article published two years ago in which the magazine alleged that Polanski propositioned a woman in New York whilst on his way to the funeral of his eight-months pregnant wife who had been murdered. Polanski denies the incident happened.
Now Polanski wants to be the first person to give evidence remotely in a libel case. His request initially succeeded in the high court, but this was overturned in the Court of Appeal. As Jonathan Parker LJ said: "The court should not be seen to assist a claimant who is a fugitive from justice to evade sentence for a crime of which he has been convicted."
Yesterday Polanski's lawyers argued for his claim using Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to a fair hearing. Should the request for video conferencing be denied, he hopes to be allowed to give evidence by written statement.
The hearing is expected to finish today.
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