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Joined: Oct 12 2007 Posts: 821

phantasmzombie wrote:

It would be hard to take his words out of context from that part of the interview, it sounds pretty cut & dry to me when a accused child rapist says "Everyone wants to fuck young girls!".

Seeing as this is the only quote people seem to mention whenever they say Polanski admits to being a pedophile, I am a little suspicious about it. For one, he doesn't state that he wanted to sleep with children, excluding the everyone part. We also know it was from an interview, yet we don't know the question asked. From the way I read it, it seems to be a question surrounding the media attention surrounding his case. It seems to be more of a comment on how everyone was making a huge deal out of it, rather than an admission of guilt. I just want to see the context to make sure.

Quote:

I'd like someone to find me a quote where he seems remorseful for what he did. I've searched the internet and I can't seem to find one.

It is an assumption, based on his actions rather than words. Maybe it is the wrong assumption, but when you have a completely winnable case right in front of you, I don't think any unremorseful person would go for a plea bargain. Could just be one of my weird optimistic moments though.

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Oct 02 2009 05:41 pm

"What are you boys playing?"

"...House"

"Why is that boy all tied up?"

"...Roman Polanski's house"

Joined: Aug 26 2007 Posts: 2752

I'm beginning to wonder if the pedophilia was a result of his wife's murder? I'm still not condoning his actions nor should he not be punished but trauma like that would make anyone lose their marbles.

Joined: Aug 26 2007 Posts: 2752

Joined: May 22 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 353

nihilisticglee wrote:

I don't think any unremorseful person would go for a plea bargain.

Unless they were guilty as hell and wanted the lightest sentence they could get.

Joined: Oct 12 2007 Posts: 821

phantasmzombie wrote:

nihilisticglee wrote:

I don't think any unremorseful person would go for a plea bargain.

Unless they were guilty as hell and wanted the lightest sentence they could get.

The lightest sentence he could have gotten was nothing, the case against him was hinging on the testimony of a girl who refused to come to trial. It is kind of hard to to win a case when your key piece of evidence won't come to court.

Of course, what is coming out of my mouth is pure speculation, as I don't think anyone as any real idea of what is going through his head. I would like to read the notes from the 42 days he spent under psychiatric evaluation, if only because I would think they would be incredibly fascinating, if bat shit insane.

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Oct 03 2009 09:39 am

Innocent people sometimes take plea bargains, or at least it seems that way. People have been released when later evidence throws the guilt of someone who pleaded out into question.

The thing is, even though you may be not guilty (our justice system doesn't find people innocent, it presumes they are until shown otherwise), evidence can be mounted against you to make it appear that you are. And every jury trial is a crap shoot, you never know what the jury will do...that's why pleas are offered in the first place. So sometimes you take the sure thing rather than take your chances with a harsher sentence. In addition, if the crime in question is minor, an innocent person might plead guilty or no-contest* just to save the time and expense of a trial.

And even a plea bargain isn't certain. If the judge feels that the bargain isn't in the interest of justice (he feels the sentence agreed upon is too harsh or light, or feels the defendant's guilty plea isn't in earnest or he's protecting someone), the plea can be rejected.

*since someone is going to ask, a "no contest" plea means simply "I'm not saying I'm guilty, but I'm not contesting the charges". It's essentially the same as a guilty plea and does count as a conviction, if it's even allowed, but it's not an admission of guilt and therefore can't be used as evidence in future court actions (a civil trial for example)