Roman Polanski found not guilty in court over defamation claim
Multiple women have come forward accusing 90-year-old filmmaker Roman Polanski of abuse, one being Charlotte Lewis. However, Lewis recently faced defeat in a court case against the director. The trial was not directly about the rape she accused him of.
Famed filmmaker Roman Polanski, originally from France and Poland, emerged victorious in a defamation lawsuit held in Paris. British actress Charlotte Lewis had initiated the case against him due to his claims in an interview dismissed her rape allegations as lies. The Paris criminal court cleared Polanski of his defamation charges.
The Oscar-winning director was not in the courtroom when the verdict was delivered. Actress Lewis, aged 56, was visibly emotional, stating, "I'm sad - sad for me, my son, and my mom." She had lost a lengthy legal battle.
Lewis filed a lawsuit against Polanski after he refuted her rape allegations as "a despicable lie" in a weekly magazine called "Paris Match". The filmmaker highlighted inconsistencies in Lewis' testimony, saying, "The basic quality of a good liar is an excellent memory."
Were Lewis' quotes accurately portrayed?
In the interview, Polanski targeted remarks Lewis made in a British magazine where she spoke about being captivated by him and wanting to be his lover. It seemed he had more desire for her than she for him.
Following the publication of Polanski's interview in "Paris Match" in December 2019, Lewis contested the quotes attributed to her, claiming she had been misquoted. After Lewis' response to the interview, she filed a defamation lawsuit.
In 2010, Lewis alleged that Polanski had raped her in 1983 when she was 16. She had not filed charges against him at that time. She was also a part of the 1986 adventure film "Pirates," directed by Polanski.
Polanski, on the run since 1978
Before the trial, the public prosecutor's office made clear that the court ruling would not determine the veracity of the alleged rape nor the authenticity of the statements attributed to the actress. The court would solely focus on whether or not Polanski had abused his freedom of speech.
Several women have accused Polanski of sexual assault in recent years. In 1978, he faced charges of having sexual relations with a minor in the US, admitted to the actions but denied the rape charge. Polanski fled the US to avoid a guilty verdict and prison sentence. A few weeks ago, another abuse claim was made against him in the USA, with the case set for court in 2025.
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Despite the court's decision clearing Roman Polanski of defamation charges, the sexual abuse allegations against him continue to cast a shadow over his film career in the entertainment industry. The process of addressing these accusations and seeking justice for the victims is ongoing and complex.
The controversy surrounding Roman Polanski's past actions has raised questions about how the film industry handles similar situations, particularly in light of the #MeToo movement and increased awareness of sexual abuse issues. This issue highlights the need for thorough investigations, fair trials, and accountability in the entertainment industry and beyond.
Source: www.ntv.de
