Roman Polanski's victim asks judge to dismiss his criminal case 'as an act of mercy' to her

The teen girl who was raped by Roman Polanski in the late 1970s is now a grandmother — and she's asking the court to drop his case so she can be free of it.

Samantha Geimer told judge Scott Gordon that she has been serving a 40-year sentence, and asked him to give her justice and relief "as an act of mercy to myself and my family."

Geimer sent a harsh letter to the D.A. in April saying she's tired of a crime that was committed against her being used to further prosecutors' careers. She echoed that sentiment Friday morning, in a hearing before judge Gordon who is handling the current iteration of Polanski's case.

The Rosemary's Baby director says he fled because the judge who was handling his case decades ago promised him he'd serve 90 days of psychiatric evaluation, but was going to sentence him to 50 years in prison. Polanski served 42 days in jail before leaving the country and nearly a year in Swiss prison in the late 2000s before authorities there decided to reject an extradition request.

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Polanski's attorney Harland Braun wants prosecutors to release the transcript of former deputy DA Roger Gunson's testimony, which he says could prove misconduct in the case, and Geimer is in his corner on that issue. While that was the only pending motion heading into the hearing, much of the discussion centered on dismissal.

Braun made an oral motion to dismiss the case in the interest of justice before Geimer took the podium to address the court.

She said she is deeply disappointed that this case hasn't ended and asked Gordon to consider several paths toward an expedited conclusion: sentencing Polanski in absentia to time served, recalling the international warrant for him, unsealing Gunson's testimony and compelling the DA to investigate the alleged misconduct or dismissing the case altogether. "We are human beings," she said. "Not wins and losses."

Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee told the court that while she acknowledges victims have certain rights under the law those rights don't extend to controlling the outcome of criminal cases.

Gordon was sympathetic and told Geimer that the crimes Polanski committed against her are "as serious as this court ever sees."

"I commend you for coming in," he said. "Your courage as a survivor is noted."

Gordon took the matter under submission and told Geimer that she and her family deserve closure — and he also made clear that one person "holds the key" to that closure: Polanski. If the director were to return to the U.S. for sentencing, the matter could be finished once and for all.

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