The French government has distanced itself from film director Roman Polanski. It had originally protested the arrest of the Oscar winning film director, but following a backlash the government has changed its tune. Reuters - France's government changed its tone on Wednesday on the arrest of Roman Polanski for having sex with a 13-year-old girl, describing the charges as serious after initially rushing to the film director's defence. France and Poland, where the 76-year-old Oscar-winning director spent his childhood, at first loudly protested against Polanski's arrest last weekend. But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that it was for judges, not diplomats, to handle the case which dates back to 1977. After French politicians across the spectrum initially voiced strong unease over the arrest, a government spokesman modified the official line on Wednesday, saying that Polanski was "neither above nor below the law".
Reuters - France's government changed its tone on Wednesday on the arrest of Roman Polanski for having sex with a 13-year-old girl, describing the charges as serious after initially rushing to the film director's defence. France and Poland, where the 76-year-old Oscar-winning director spent his childhood, at first loudly protested against Polanski's arrest last weekend. But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that it was for judges, not diplomats, to handle the case which dates back to 1977. After French politicians across the spectrum initially voiced strong unease over the arrest, a government spokesman modified the official line on Wednesday, saying that Polanski was "neither above nor below the law".
A retired prosecutor has admitted lying about the Roman Polanski case in a documentary, a revelation which could undermine the film director's attempts to have the case against him dismissed. David Wells said he lied to a film crew when he told them that he had advised the judge handling the original Polanski case to send the director to prison. Polanski's lawyers had seized on the comments Mr Wells made in the film "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired".
David Wells said he lied to a film crew when he told them that he had advised the judge handling the original Polanski case to send the director to prison.
Polanski's lawyers had seized on the comments Mr Wells made in the film "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired".
