Polanski post.

[mr_clarinet]

I have to say I'm surprised at the number of people who most of the time are so vociferous in their defence and compassion for victims' experiences and wishes, who are suddenly very dismissive of them in this case because it conflicts with their own desire to see someone punished. I'd love to see Polanski banged up as much as anyone else, but when

Comments

[xiphias]

It's NOT about her, though.

It's about crime, and about justice.

Society doesn't punish crime for the benefit of the victim -- it does so for the benefit of society.

I deserve to live in a society without rapists, in which rape is not condoned, in which, if someone DOES do something horrific, there are consequences.

I don't want Polanski punished for her -- I want him to serve his sentence for me, and for every other person in civilized society.

It's not about "message". It's about "justice". A person was convicted of a crime. He then compounded the crime by committing another crime, that of fleeing from justice.

I, as a member of society, have a right to expect him to face trial for that second crime, and for him to serve the sentence he was assigned for the first crime, as well as to serve whatever sentence he will get if he is convicted of the second crime.

It has little to do with the victim. And, in any case, it need not involve her. None of the facts in the case are in dispute, none need her testimony.

[mr_clarinet]

I don't understand the legalities of it all, it's confusing and I'm not trained in law, much less American law, so that's one thing. If they don't need her to turn up in court I suppose it makes it easier for her

[xiphias]

What I'm saying is unquestionably true from a legal point of view (not just an American legal point of view, but all Western law systems), and I believe that it is, additionally, ethically correct

[mr_clarinet]

This is the best post and I applaud you.

[half_1113]

I wish they could just punish him for running away for 30 years. After I saw that interview on 60 minutes when he said it was consensual sex I almost barfed.

I'm having a hard time with it as well. I'm torn.

I also wonder if she wants to leave it be because of her civil suit settlement.

[mr_clarinet]

Yeah, there is a big part of me thinking, "that fucker just needs to face the music for what he has done". And there's nothing wrong with that, but there's just this niggle I have that what about what she wants? And I can't shake that.

[sweetvenom]

The thing is, it's not unusual for a victim of rape to disassociate themselves from the case, but what makes them not want to press charges isn't forgiveness or closure but the fact that they find it too difficult and painful to go through that again. That's fair enough of course, but are we to therefore stop prosecuting crimes where the victims are hurt the most?

[mr_clarinet]

This is a very good point.

[mr_clarinet]

And also this is why I could never be a lawyer.

[xiphias]

Well, he also needs to face the sentence of the sexual crime of which he has already been tried and convicted.