Polanksi’s Lawyer, Chad Hummel, is trying to have him sentenced in absentia so that he does not have to return to the USA in the custody of USA authorities. This is what the prosecutors particularly disagree with. Deputy District Attorney David Walgren was very clear about this as can be seen below in excerpts from court papers filed with the Swiss Court Friday:
"The defendant is a fugitive," Walgren wrote. "A fugitive child rapist, who for 32 years has made a mockery of our criminal justice system, should not be given the power or authority to request anything of this court until he, the criminal, acknowledges this court’s lawful authority by surrendering on his outstanding warrant. "Walgren added that the only just solution would be for Polanski to waive extradition. "The operation of a fair and equitable judicial system mandates that criminals, even those with celebrity status and wealthy means, abide by lawful court orders," he wrote.
Compelling Polanski to obey the court’s order "is the only way the integrity of our system can possibly be maintained," he concluded. We think that Polanksi should simply waive extradition and return to the USA voluntarily thereby demonstrating some remorse and willingness to co-operate. Given the length of time since the crime, Polanski’s age (76), the fact that the victim seems to have moved on with her life and reached a financial settlement with Polanski it is unlikely that he would be sentenced to serious jail time, if he got any at all. By forcing the court and the USA to proceed with extradition Polanski is probably not improving his status with the judges or prosecutors – he is further damaging the relationship he has with the very institution that will eventually decide his faith. Photo: Fame Pictures