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  Prosecutor Admits Lying in Polanski Film

By Miriam Hernandez
KABC
September 30, 2009

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/entertainment&id=7041542

[with video]

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A former prosecutor says he lied about talking to a judge in Roman Polanksi's trial.

A new development in the case against Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski was revealed Wednesday. A former prosecutor now says he lied about talking to a judge in Polanksi's trial 30 years ago.

The startling admission from former prosecutor David Wells could rock Polanski's claim that there was judicial misconduct in his rape trial.

It comes as child sex abuse victims are blasting Hollywood heavyweights for supporting Polanski.

David Wells wants to set the record straight. He had made statements as an inside expert in an HBO documentary film about Roman Polanski.

Wells says now he did not work on the Polanski case. He says he did not make recommendations to the judge on sentencing. That undercuts Polanski's defense. Polanski's defense wanted the case dismissed due to prosecutorial misconduct based on Wells' admission in the film that he had told the judge to send Polanski to jail. Wells now says he lied about talking to the judge; therefore, there was no misconduct.

On Wednesday, activists joined the debate.

"We are here because someone needs to say the district attorney is doing the right thing," said Joelle Casteix, southwest regional director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). "We are asking for a complete boycott of all of Polanski films, as well as a complete boycott of any of the luminaries, including Mr. Scorsese, Mr. Allen, and anyone else who signed that petition asking for Mr. Polanski's release."

The Los Angeles District Attorney is driven by graphic details that came out of grand jury testimony. A copy of the proceeding was obtained by Eyewitness News.

Thirty-one years ago a 13-year-old girl told of a photo shoot. Polanski posed her drinking champagne, then offered her a Quaalude, a drug that eases anxiety.

When asked why she took it, she replied, "I don't know, I must have been pretty drunk or I wouldn't have."

She described his advances and repeatedly asked to go home.

She lied to him about having asthma: "Because I wanted to get out of the Jacuzzi." She did not fight. "I was kind of afraid of him."

She described the details of intercourse. She said Polanski told her, "Don't tell your mother about this and don't tell your boyfriend either."

Polanksi's defenders say he should be released because of what the victim --now a grown-up -- says today.

"For the whole last 20 years, if we could just put this to rest, that would be great," said the victim.

"For her to heal and her to move on she has to forgive Roman Polanski," said Casteix. "You can't live a life full of anger at someone you have no control over."

Polanski remains in a Swiss jail as his attorneys fight extradition to the United States.

As for former prosecutor Wells, he told the Los Angeles Times that he called the district attorney's office and apologized several months ago. He said he thought the film would never be broadcast in the U.S.

 
 

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