Very discreet since the controversy sparked by his coronation as best director during the César ceremony in 2020, Roman Polanski will soon have to face justice. Indeed, the filmmaker will be tried in Paris on Tuesday March 5, 2024, as part of the defamation trial brought by British actress Charlotte Lewis. The director’s lawyers indicated that their client will not appear at the hearing before the 17th chamber of the criminal court, as reported by AFP on Sunday March 3, 2024. This case began in 2010 during the Cannes Film Festival. This year, Charlotte Lewis had accused Roman Polanski to see her “sexually assaulted” during a casting organized at his home in Paris in 1983. At the time, the British actress was just 16 years old. However, she had not filed a complaint, since she had simply testified to the American police. For the record, the filmmaker has been considered a fugitive in the eyes of the American authorities for more than 40 years, following a conviction for illegal sexual relations with a minor.
“Smearing, discrediting, defaming is an integral part of the Polanski system,” says Charlotte Lewis’ lawyer
Roman Polanski finally responded to Charlotte Lewis’s accusations in 2019. During an interview with Paris Matchthe director had claimed that the British actress’s comments were “abhorrent lie”. “You see, the first quality of a good liar is an excellent memory. Charlotte Lewis is always mentioned in the list of my accusers without ever pointing out (her) contradictions“, Roman Polanski also added. Following the publication of this interview, Charlotte Lewis decided to file a complaint against the filmmaker for defamation. This legal procedure led to the director being referred to court, given that referral is almost automatic under press law. For their part, Roman Polanski’s lawyers contest any defamation on the part of their client. “Roman Polanski has the right to defend himself publicly, in the same way as the person who accuses him“Me Delphine Meillet told AFP. “Smearing, discrediting, defaming is an integral part of the Polanski system, this is what Charlotte Lewis denounces with great courage”underlined for his part the lawyer of the British actress, Me Benjamin Chouai.