Oh, I see.
Well, probably for the best. It's not like paying the family would have gotten him out of this situation.
The civil suit settlement occurred nearly two decades after he fled the US. And anyway, a civil suit settlement should play no part in a criminal trial or criminal sentencing, either for or against the accused.
I really didn't care or have much knowledge of the Roman Polanski rape case up until recently when I saw Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired and if that film is accurate, this whole case is incredibly silly and a waste of court resources. If anything the judge that presided over the case should've been disbarred for malfeasance.
If Polanski felt the trial judge acted improperly, he could have sought relief legally through an appeal, which he could easily afford. The fact is he fled before the trial judge even had a chance to sentence him.
I'm not one that would normally defend a fucking rapist, but even the vicitim in this case doesn't want Polanski to serve any time.
The victim wanted him to face justice for nearly three decades, yet her wishes were not respected. The fact is that criminal cases are tried by the state, not individuals. The state should consider the victims wishes, but ultimately it has broader societal concerns to punish and deter child sexual abuse.
