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Roman Polanski: Loses bid to move case
On Friday, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has struck down a request by Roman Polanski's lawyer to disqualify all judges in Los Angeles County from hearing a bid to dismiss the director's 1977 rape case because of bias.
However judge Peter Espinoza ruled the defense motion "discloses no legal grounds for disqualification" and was therefore "ordered stricken." The judge said that he and the other judges in the county were not biased against or in favor of Roman Polanski.
The 75 year old Roman Polanski, the director of "The Pianist", pleaded guilty to a single charge of sexual intercourse with a minor more than 30 years ago. Polanski, an Academy Award winner, fled to France before being sentenced for the rape of a 13 year old girl.
A hearing on that motion is set for January 21, but Polanski's lawyers have said he has no plans to return for the proceeding. The District Attorney's Office filed its formal response on Tuesday opposing a dismissal.
The charges against him were not dropped and Roman Polanski never again set foot in the United States, not even to receive the Oscar award.
A call seeking comment from Polanski's attorney was not immediately returned. |