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Judge denies Polanski’s bid to toss sex case

A Los Angeles judge has dismissed Roman Polanski’s bid to throw out a 31-year-old sex case because the fugitive director failed to appear in court.In a brief hearing Thursday, Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza said he was finalizing an earlier decision for the record.The judge said Polanski’s lawyer informed him the director doesn’t intend to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the court
/ Source: The Associated Press

A Los Angeles judge has dismissed Roman Polanski’s bid to throw out a 31-year-old sex case because the fugitive director failed to appear in court.

In a brief hearing Thursday, Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza said he was finalizing an earlier decision for the record.

The judge said Polanski’s lawyer informed him the director doesn’t intend to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the court.

Polanski’s lawyer already has said he will seek review by an appeals court.

The 75-year-old Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl and then fled to France. He recently sought dismissal on grounds of misconduct by the now-deceased judge.

Polanski risked arrest if he returned to Los Angeles.