Sympathy for Polanski? He pled guilty because he WAS guilty. And then he fled punishment. The young girl who got raped will never be able to flee the effect that Polanski had on her life.
Plea bargains are reneged all the time, and the judge reserves the right to do so. While it may not be routine, reneging on a plea bargain certainly isn't unheard of. The victim of the rape was so traumatized by the media coverage of the trial (read: further victimization of the rape victim) that she simply wanted the ordeal to end. That doesn't mean she wanted Polanski to flee from justice.
I agree with you that a long jail sentence is appropriate, and I don't mean to insinuate that I think you are trying to defend Polanski, a rapist. However, I simply have zero sympathy for a man who pled guilty to a crime he did commit and then fled when the judge decided to pursue appropriate charges.
In response...
Plea bargains are reneged all the time, and the judge reserves the right to do so. While it may not be routine, reneging on a plea bargain certainly isn't unheard of. The victim of the rape was so traumatized by the media coverage of the trial (read: further victimization of the rape victim) that she simply wanted the ordeal to end. That doesn't mean she wanted Polanski to flee from justice.
I agree with you that a long jail sentence is appropriate, and I don't mean to insinuate that I think you are trying to defend Polanski, a rapist. However, I simply have zero sympathy for a man who pled guilty to a crime he did commit and then fled when the judge decided to pursue appropriate charges.