Read The Original Harrowing Testimony Of Roman Polanski Rape Victim
Sept. 30 2009, Published 5:17 a.m. ET
Long before Samantha Geimer publicly identified herself as the 13-year-old girl raped by Roman Polanski and said she thought his conviction should be overturned,she gave harrowing testimony to a grand jury, describing her ordeal in explicit detail.
Now, with Polanski once again under arrest and being held in Switzerland awaiting possible extradition back to the USA, many of his fellow celebrities have rallied to his defense – but the transcript of Samantha’s 1977 testimony is a raw and powerful today as it was when Polanski was facing trial.
Click for more photos of Samantha posing for a photo shoot
While the years seem to have made the director a sympathetic figure to some stars, the grand jury transcript describes – in graphic detail – a shocking crime against a child, the details of which haven’t detered 110 film industry figures from signing a petition for Polanski’s release. Thos celebrities include Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen and David Lynch, as well as Wim Wenders, Pedro Almodovar, Tilda Swinton and Monica Bellucci.
The fugitive director pleaded guilty over 30 years ago to having sex with a 13-year-old girl but fled the US before sentencing - he has been living on the lam ever since.
In her 1977 grand jury testimony, then 13-year-old, then known as Samantha Gailey testified how the director had sex with her after plying her with champagne and a Quaalude at the Los Angeles home of Jack Nicholson.
Gailey, an aspiring model, described how the ordeal began with her posing topless for Polanski at his request. She then describes posing naked for him in a Jacuzzi, allegedly for a French Vogue photoshoot. Soon the director removed his clothes and got in the Jacuzzi with Samantha.
She testified: “He goes, ‘Come down here.’
“And I said, ‘No, no. I got to get out.’
“And he goes, ‘No. Come down here.’”
Samantha tried to break away from Polanski by lying and telling him she had asthma. And as she repeatedly tried to get away from him, and asked him to take her home, he continued his relentless quest to have sex with her.
He followed her into the bedroom where despite Samantha asking Polanski to "keep away" he kissed the 13-year-old.
“He reached over and kissed me. And I was telling him, ‘No,’ you know, ‘keep away.’
The director said he would take her home, but then proceeded to perform a sex act on the 13-year-old.
Polanski could be released on bail
After that he "started to have intercourse with me." Gailey testified. She also said that Polanski, 43 at the time, "put his (censored) in my butt" after asking her "Would you want me to go in through your back?"
Polanski wants the case thrown out
Meanwhile, Samantha Geimer, who is 45 now and married with three children, says she has forgiven Polanski and wants him to be forgiven by others.
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
She says she has made peace with Polanski, with herself, and wants everybody to leave her alone for the sake of her family.
