A Polish court on Wednesday delayed a decision on whether to extradite Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski to the United States where he faces sentencing for the 1977 rape of a 13-year-old girl. The 81-year-old fugitive, dressed in a suit and tie, for his part told reporters he was “tired” at a press conference that began late because he ducked out to take a call from his wife, French actress Emmanuelle Seigner. The United States filed the extradition request in January. Polanski has said he doubts it will be honoured but added that he will comply with the legal proceedings in Poland, where he will begin shooting a new film this year.
The judge did not specify the date of the next hearing. He expects to set it for April.
court spokeswoman Beata Gorszczyk
The director of “The Pianist”, “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby” was accused of raping Samantha Geimer, who was then 13, after a photo shoot in Los Angeles in 1977 when he was 43. He pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, or statutory rape, avoiding a trial, but then fled the country fearing a hefty sentence. U.S. officials have regularly pressed for his extradition, but to no avail.