Roman Polanski Faces Another Sexual Assault Allegation, But Says It's A Sham
The Los Angeles Police Department has started investigations on a new sexual assault claim against Roman Polanski.
On Oct. 14, Marianne Barnard, an artist from California, accused the iconic director of molesting her when she was 10 years old. The story, which was published on her social media account, claims that Polanski had her pose naked, with only a fur coat during a photo shoot in Malibu back in 1975.
#RomanPolanski took photos of me naked & in fur coat on beach in Malibu, I was 10 yrs old. He went on from there. This ends now #ROSEARMY https://t.co/CXoABPSn6H
— Marianne Barnard (M) (@Marianne_M_B) October 13, 2017
Unfortunately, the statue of limitation has already expired. However, the authorities claimed that they may be able to use any evidence to prosecute other cases.
A police spokesman stated that they have opened an investigation because the Los Angeles detectives "will always take a report from any victim and then determine if the case is within the statute of limitations."
Polanski's History Of Sexual Misconduct
This is not the first time that Polanski has been involved in a sexual assault case. In 1978, the French-Polish director became a fugitive when he fled to Paris hours before he was to be sentenced.
The director was tried and convicted of having an unlawful sex with a minor. However, prosecutors dropped the charges that claimed he drugged, raped, and sodomized the girl.
In 2010, another woman accused Polanski of sexual abuse. The director allegedly forced himself on her when she was auditioning for a role in 1983. She was 16 years old at the time of the incident.
A few months later, a German actress told the authorities that the Academy Award winner raped her at his mountain chalet in Switzerland when she was 15. She said he went there with him because he was interested in casting her for a role.
Polanski Retaliates
The director, however, claims that Barnard's story did not happen. Harland Braun, his lawyer, said he has hired an investigator to look into the case and interview the accuser's relatives. He has also instructed the investigator to divulge the information and documents to the police.
"I believe that a competent LAPD investigation will prove the whole story to be bogus," Braud said.
On Twitter, Barnard reacted.
"Serial child rapist Roman Polanski has hired a private detective to harass me and my relatives," she tweeted. "Polanski and his attorneys next move is to try their best to discredit me by making up false stories."
Polanski won an Academy Award for Best Director for his 2002 movie, The Pianist. His lawyers and supporters, including Harvey Weinstein, have been rallying to lift the international warrant against the 84-year-old, saying that he has served his time.
