Judge broke promise to let Polanski go free in rape trial, sealed testimony says

Los Angeles judge privately told lawyers he would imprison film director, ‘reneging’ on pledge, according to ex-prosecutor

A Los Angeles judge privately told lawyers he would renege on a promise and imprison Roman Polanski for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl in 1977, a former prosecutor testified, setting the stage for the renowned director to flee the US as a fugitive.

A previously sealed transcript obtained by the Associated Press late on Sunday of testimony by the retired deputy district attorney Roger Gunson supports Polanski’s claim that he fled on the eve of sentencing in 1978 because he didn’t think he was getting a fair deal.