Time Explains 'Why the French Are Outraged' at Roman Polanski Arrest

[Revmitchell]

There's a side of America that scares Frenchmen, French Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand was quoted by Time magazine Paris-based writer Bruce Crumley, and it's the side of American determination that doesn't let a 32-year-old rape case die, even if the perpetrator is an elderly survivor of the Holocaust.

Seeking to explain the "cultural divide" that's as "wide as the Atlantic" between America and Europe, Crumley noted that Europeans are "shocked and dismayed that an internationally acclaimed artist" such as Roman Polanski "could be jailed for such an old offense."

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[Spear]

I saw that on tv yesterday.

Shame on him, i didn't know about that rape.

He commited a crime, he flew away, we were stupid enough to welcome him on our ground knowing that, he took the nationality (so he cannot get extraded), ....

He is guilty, he flew away, even if it was 30 years ago, he's still guilty of an horrible act. May he be sent back to USA, be judged and jailed.

No matter how famous he is, how rich he is ... it's such a shame to have given him the nationality with such pursuits and crime after him.

One thing i wonder is : why did it take so long to catch him ?

 

[Spear]

I'm reading the news about the " supporters ". You can't imagine how disgusted i feel.

The polls & comments indicate that the population is massively for judgment (8% think facts are too old and then prescribed (i don't know if it's that word you use when a crime is so old that you can't be pursued anymore ?).

BUT ! Politics representatives from both sides, and many the " artists " claim it's a shame, facts are old, that the woman removed her plaint ... i have the same feeling as if i was going to vomit. I stop that and am gonna burn & flame these news with comments on their respective information websites.

 

[billwald]

Say an auto mechanic committed a rape 50 years ago and has not been charged with a sex offense since. Is he not "reformed?"

 

[Twizzler]

Critically acclaimed by Hollywood, not by working folks. I don't care if he's loved by millions for his movies, or that he's older, or that his wife was killed by a maniac, or that he was a survivor of the halocaust. He should spend time in jail, but we all know he won't... just like Ali was welcomed back after his draft dodging.

 

[donnA]

he drugged and raped a little girl, why should he not be punished for it no matter who he is or how rich and famous he is. he signed to plead guilty and then left before sentencing, he agreed he was guilty. do we let children rapists go free now?

 

[rbell]

Say an auto mechanic committed a rape 50 years ago and has not been charged with a sex offense since. Is he not "reformed?"

So we let child rapists go...as long as they get away with it long enough? Please.

This guy never paid the punishment!!

The thought of letting a rapist go unpunished is disgusting. And so is anyone who would advocate it.

he drugged and raped a little girl, why should he not be punished for it no matter who he is or how rich and famous he is. he signed to plead guilty and then left before sentencing, he agreed he was guilty. do we let children rapists go free now?

Couldn't agree more!

 

[targus]

Say an auto mechanic committed a rape 50 years ago and has not been charged with a sex offense since. Is he not "reformed?"

"Reformed" is great once one has served one's sentence.

Fleeing his sentence is an additional crime that he will no doubt have to stand for.

Also how is it that you know that Polanski has not commited this crime again over the past 30 years - surely not based on the fact that he has not been caught.

 

[pinoybaptist]

Are there no statute of limitations for crimes like these in the US ?
Not that I want one, I think it's great that a criminal will be punished one way or the other, sometime or another, for a crime he commits.
Just that in the Philippines, a murderer cannot be charged anymore after 20 years, which is about the amount of time he would have served if he were found out.
A bigamist cannot be charged by the first or second wife, or the state, after 12 years. Statute of limitations.

Maybe I'm wrong about the number of years, but not about that country having a statute of limitations.

 

[donnA]

Are there no statute of limitations for crimes like these in the US ?

Usually there is, but he plead guilty, signed a guilty plea, and then ran before sentencing, no statue of limitations on that apparently.

 

[tinytim]

Turn him over to us hillbillies.. we will serve up justice hillbilly style!...

Whoopi can be served up Justice hillbilly style too.. I heard her trying to explain why his "rape' wasn't really rape... Whoopi, and those supporting him are just as guilty... and I never want to hear their whining over any other injustice.

 

[Nonsequitur]

Are there no statute of limitations for crimes like these in the US ?
Not that I want one, I think it's great that a criminal will be punished one way or the other, sometime or another, for a crime he commits.
Just that in the Philippines, a murderer cannot be charged anymore after 20 years, which is about the amount of time he would have served if he were found out.
A bigamist cannot be charged by the first or second wife, or the state, after 12 years. Statute of limitations.

Maybe I'm wrong about the number of years, but not about that country having a statute of limitations.

Charged yes, fugitive from justice, no. The only crime in the US that I know of that does not have statute of limitations is murder.

 

[donnA]

He has already been convicted of this rape by his own signed admission, then he ran before sentencing, yes thats a crime, and no it does not have a statute of limitation, so no statute of limitation applies here. He is a fugative and criminal.

 

[Matt Black]

This European for one supports his extradition to the States - he needs to do his time for the crime plus a bit added on for absconding. The fact that his victim has withdrawn the complaint is irrelevant since his guilty plea already lies on the court record. All that's required now is the sentence. Granted, the (deceased) judge in the case didn't exactly behave impeccably but that doesn't let Polanski off the hook for his monstrous crime.

 

[canadyjd]

Say an auto mechanic committed a rape 50 years ago and has not been charged with a sex offense since. Is he not "reformed?"

Not enough information to make the decision.

Did he plead guilty and serve his time? Has he "not been charged" because he is better at hiding his crimes now?, or has he "not been charged" because he isn't committing the crimes anymore.

Did he come to salvation at some point?

peace to youraying:

 

[Matt Black]

Even if he did come to salvation, there's still the human debt to his victim and wider society to be paid, which is best served in jail for that sort of offence. One of the fruits of his salvation would surely be turning himself in to human justice...?

 

[rbell]

Not enough information to make the decision.

Did he plead guilty and serve his time? Has he "not been charged" because he is better at hiding his crimes now?, or has he "not been charged" because he isn't committing the crimes anymore.

Did he come to salvation at some point?

peace to youraying:

Irrelevant as to whether or not he must serve society's punishment for the crime.

 

[Matt Black]

Exactly.:thumbs: