Roman Polanski

I don't have enough interest in this to go back to the original case, but here's what I remember from 30 years ago.

The original slap-on-the-wrist punishment per the plea bargain seems to indicate prosecutors didn't think they had that strong of a case against Polanski.

There could have been any number of contributing reasons. Perhaps the victim was deemed to be an unreliable witness. Perhaps the cops botched the investigation somehow. Perhaps it had something to do Polanski's celebrity. I dunno.

But I do know the LADA preferred the plea bargain over their chances to get a jury to convict.

That 60-days of community service deal was in exchange for Polankski's confession. Without the DA honoring that agreement, the "confession" is meaningless; forced under duress.

So returning him to trial means 32-year-old evidence, a 45-year-old teenager, a worthless "confession," and tainted jury pool.

The only justice to be meted out in this case was poetic. Effectively he was deported for being a skuzzball. Perhaps we should deport all pedophiles.