THE TELEGRAPH: Roman Polanski has asked a judge to sentence him in his absence for having sex with a 13-year-old girl more than three decades ago.
The request came in a letter signed by the film director in Switzerland, where he is under house arrest, and was submitted to a judge in Los Angeles.
It said Polanski understood he had the right to be present at all legal proceedings, but added: "I request that judgment be pronounced against me in my absence."
The request followed a ruling last month by an appeal court in California which suggested Polanski would not serve any additional time in jail of he agreed to being sentenced in his absence.
However, prosecutors who have long sought to bring him back to Los Angeles, said they would oppose any attempt to sentence him until he turns up in court there.
At a hearing in Los Angeles on Wednesday prosecutor David Walgren said Polanski should come back to California and not continue to fight the case "from the comfort of his Swiss chalet in the Alps." >>> Nick Allen in Los Angeles | Thursday, January 07, 2010
