Roman Polanski faces civil trial in US next year

Film director Roman Polanski will face a civil trial over the alleged rape of a minor, according to the woman’s lawyer.

The development comes over four decades since Polanksi pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, leading him to flee the United States.

The case against the 90-year-old will take place in LA in August 2025, according to Gloria Allred, a lawyer who has previously represented victims of Harvey Weinstein.

While the French-Polish filmmaker can’t be forced to be at the trial, the hearing nonetheless provides a chance for the alleged victim to seek justice for the allegations which took place in 1973.

The suit claims Polanksi took the then-teenager for dinner in LA, where he allegedly gave her tequila, and when she felt dizzy, drove her to his home where the alleged assault took place.

Polanski fled the United States while awaiting sentencing in the late ‘70s, for the assault of then 13-year-old Samantha Geimer, whom he drugged and raped. Geimer has since defended the director, saying that the incident “was never a big problem”. The pair were photographed embracing each other last year.