Roman Polanski facing US civil trial over alleged rape of girl in 1973

Renowned director Roman Polanski is set to face a US civil trial over an alleged rape in 1973.

The plaintiff, represented by attorney Gloria Allred and referred to as Jane Doe, claims Polanski raped her when she was a minor. Polanski, 90, firmly denies these accusations, declaring the lawsuit unconstitutional.

The alleged incident took place after a dinner, where Polanski purportedly gave the then-underage woman alcohol. The lawsuit details a narrative of refusal and assault, causing her significant harm.

Polanski, who fled the US in 1978 after admitting to unlawful sex with a minor in a separate case, argues that the new civil suit wrongly applies a post-1990 law retroactively.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has scheduled the trial for 2025, allowing the use of Polanski's name in the proceedings. This comes after a temporal California state extension for filing expired sexual abuse claims.

Polanski, known for classics like "Rosemary's Baby," faced expulsion from the Academy following the rise of the #MeToo movement. Despite his exile, he received a Best Director Oscar for "The Pianist" in 2003.