Roman Polanski to face rape trial in Los Angeles in 2025
Roman Polanski, the filmmaker behind such movies as Chinatown, The Pianist and Rosemary’s Baby, is set to face trial in Los Angeles in 2025 over alleged rape.
The director has fallen under the sobering light of sexual misconduct allegations over the past few years. With a defamation case ongoing in Paris, Polanski is now also scheduled to stand trial in America next year over a historical rape allegation.
The lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff met the filmmaker at a party in 1973. Polanski then invited her for a meal at Le Restaurant on La Brea Avenue, where he allegedly encouraged her to drink shots of tequila before taking her back to his home in Benedict Canyon.
“Plaintiff remembers waking up in Defendant’s bed with him lying in the bed next to her,” the lawsuit states. “He told her that he wanted to have sex with her. Plaintiff, though groggy, told Defendant ‘No.’ She told him, ‘Please don’t do this.'”
The suit alleges that Polanski ignored the protests and proceeded to rape her. Afterwards, he drove her home. The pair would never see each other again.
The unnamed alleged victim first came forward in August 2017 during a press conference with Gloria Allred. Allred identified the plaintiff as Robin M, who was 16 at the time of the alleged incident.
In June 2023, the alleged victim filed a lawsuit under the name Jane Doe under a California law that extends the statute of limitations for historical child sexual abuse cases. Polanski, who now resides in Paris, vehemently denied the allegations.
“It took me a really long time to decide this suit against Mr. Polanski,” the plaintiff said at another press conference arranged by Allred on Tuesday, March 12th. She finally did so “to obtain justice and accountability.”
Polanski’s attorneys swiftly responded to the claim. “Mr. Polanski strenuously denies the allegations in the lawsuit and believes that the proper place to try this case is in the courts,” said attorney Alexander Rufus-Isaacs.
Over the coming months before the 2025 trial, legal representatives on both sides of the case will conduct written discovery and arrange statements. Such cases can often be resolved before the trial date.
Polanski fled the US in 1978 on the eve of sentencing for a separate child rape allegation. He has been a fugitive ever since, unwilling to return to his home country for fear of arrest. If the trial goes ahead in 2025, Polanski’s presence will not be necessary.
“He is not coming back,” Allred said at the conference on March 12th. “But this is a civil lawsuit. He does not have to appear.”
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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