PHOTOS! Here again are pictures and more excerpts of Samantha Geimer’s thoughts on Roman Polanski in 2009 and in 1977. Geimer, then Samantha Gailey, met Roman Polanski in February 1977. Only thirty days later, the 13 year old from Woodland Hills would appear before a Los Angeles Grand Jury to discuss the actions of the director. The director of Chinatown – still his finest work to date – would enter a guilty plea, leave the country before sentencing, and never return to U.S. soil for 32 years.
The Polanski events unfolded with an offer by him to Gailey to meet him alone at his home on February 13, 1977.
Just years before, his second wife Sharon Tate had been murdered by Susan Atkins and the Charles Manson Family. Now days after Atkins’ death, Polanski has been arrested.
Samantha Geimer Pictures
Samantha Geimer Photos 1
Samantha Geimer Photos 2
Samantha Geimer Photos 3
Samantha Geimer Photos 4
By this decade, Geimer would appear in public, write op-ed articles, and consistently hold the position to close the case. Instead, Polanski is being held by Swiss authorities today as extradition proceedings begin.
Geimer long ago came public with her identity. Geimer is today 45 and married with three children. But on February 13, 1977 Geimer was 13 year old Samantha Gailey of Woodland Hills, meeting
Polanski at his home at which he indicated he had an interest in photographing her. On February 20, she met him again at his residence to take pictures. Gailey said two rolls of film were taken by Polanski.
Gailey told the Court that Polanski then told her to pose without clothing from the waist up. Gailey said she did not tell her mother about the nature of the photographs after that February 20th meeting. Gailey said then that Polanski asked for her another photography session.
The next encounter would be March 10, 1977 at the Mulholland home of Jack Nicholson. Jack Nicholson was not home at the time but his girlfriend at the time Anjelica Huston was in the house. Gailey said:
“We did photos with me drinking champagne.
“Toward the end it got a little scary, and I realized he had other intentions and I knew I was not where I should be. I just didn’t quite know how to get myself out of there.”
In 2003, Geimer said she told Polanski “no” several times and he refused. “I said no several times, and then, well, gave up on that.”
Huston would give a statement to investigators.
On March 24, 1977, Gailey would give testimony before a grand jury. Polanski would be arrested, pleaded guilty to one count of relations with Gailey. But before his sentencing hearing, Polanski fled. An arrest warrant was issued.
By 2008, Geimer was clear she wanted Polanski’s charges dropped. She told the Times:
“It’s been a long time. I don’t wish for him to be held to further punishment or consequences.”
In January 2009, Polanski sought to have the charges dropped. Polanski was never sentenced but the judge in his case, now deceased, had indicated 42 days in jail to 90 days in jail as possible ruling.
Geimer, now 45, told the court in a written statement this January that she has long opposed to the continuation of this matter
“If Polanski cannot stand before the court to make this request, I, as the victim, can and I, as the victim do. I have urged that this matter come to a formal legal end. I have urged that the district attorney and the court dismiss these charges.”
“… I am no longer a 13-year-old child. I have dealt with the difficulties of being a victim, have surmounted and surpassed them with one exception.
“Every time this case is brought to the attention of the Court, great focus is made of me, my family, my mother and others. That attention is not pleasant to experience and is not worth maintaining over some irrelevant legal nicety, the continuation of the case.”
