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Lawyers to Discuss Polanski Case in L.A. Court Today
AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar
Director Roman Polanski remains under house arrest in a Swiss town, having already pledged to fight his extradition to the United States to face sentencing in a 32-year-old case. Today, however, lawyers are scheduled to meet here in Los Angeles to continue discussing what "future legal moves that could resolve the marathon prosecution," according to the Daily News. This type of meeting is called a "status conference" and will be heard by Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza. The hope is to determine what will bring an end to the case, and the California 2nd District Court of Appeal has prepared a lengthy document listing their advisement in the matter, following their refusal to dismiss the 1977 case against Polanski altogether last month.
According to the opinion, Polanski has two choices: "file a motion to be sentenced in absentia, or drop his extradition fight, return to the United States and be sentenced in person, most likely not resulting in additional jail time." While they acknowledge their was likely "judicial and prosecutorial misconduct in his case that should be investigated," their aim is to end this "saga" as soon as possible.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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