Roman Polanski arrested in Zürich

[alfred russel]

This is retarded to arrest someone on a 30-year-old warrant, perhaps with the exception of stuff like genocide or war crimes. In fact, I don't think that would be even legal in Poland.

So in Poland you can split the country before sentencing for rape, and then after the a certain period of time it is considered water under the bridge and you can't be arrested anymore? Fascinating--what is the typical time limit on this sort of thing? Can you get away with murder and other serious crimes through this method as well?

It's 30 years for murder, 10-20 for other felonies, depending on the type, 5 for misdemeanor. This then gets prolonged (between 5 and 10 years, depending on a type of crime) if during that period proceedings against a person are started.

Only crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide do not get treated that way. Also for crimes committed by the communist regime, this does not start running until communism ended.

I am surprised by your surprise, to be honest. We got this idea from Germany and France. In fact, I think Anglosaxon legal systems are quite unique in not having this kind of statute of limitations (at least in the West).

Are you a lawyer (I forgot). Judging from the surprise some of you guys often express at pretty universal civil law systems' institutions, it looks like you guys get no comparative legal studies at your law school at all. 

I'm not a lawyer.

We do have a statute of limitations, but there is a difference between starting a fresh trial, and having a resolution of guilt and fleeing before sentencing. Based on what you posted, I could gun down a kindergarten at 20, get convicted, escape before sentencing, live in Argentina until 50, and then return to Poland a free man without consequences. If that is really the case, I think our system is significantly superior.

[Martinus]

This is retarded to arrest someone on a 30-year-old warrant, perhaps with the exception of stuff like genocide or war crimes. In fact, I don't think that would be even legal in Poland.

So in Poland you can split the country before sentencing for rape, and then after the a certain period of time it is considered water under the bridge and you can't be arrested anymore? Fascinating--what is the typical time limit on this sort of thing? Can you get away with murder and other serious crimes through this method as well?

It's 30 years for murder, 10-20 for other felonies, depending on the type, 5 for misdemeanor. This then gets prolonged (between 5 and 10 years, depending on a type of crime) if during that period proceedings against a person are started.

Only crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide do not get treated that way. Also for crimes committed by the communist regime, this does not start running until communism ended.

I am surprised by your surprise, to be honest. We got this idea from Germany and France. In fact, I think Anglosaxon legal systems are quite unique in not having this kind of statute of limitations (at least in the West).

Are you a lawyer (I forgot). Judging from the surprise some of you guys often express at pretty universal civil law systems' institutions, it looks like you guys get no comparative legal studies at your law school at all. 

I'm not a lawyer.

We do have a statute of limitations, but there is a difference between starting a fresh trial, and having a resolution of guilt and fleeing before sentencing. Based on what you posted, I could gun down a kindergarten at 20, get convicted, escape before sentencing, live in Argentina until 50, and then return to Poland a free man without consequences. If that is really the case, I think our system is significantly superior.

Oh that's different. You asked about fleeing before trial/sentence (which is the case here with Polanski). Obviously, these rules do not apply to escaped convicts.

[alfred russel]

This is retarded to arrest someone on a 30-year-old warrant, perhaps with the exception of stuff like genocide or war crimes. In fact, I don't think that would be even legal in Poland.

So in Poland you can split the country before sentencing for rape, and then after the a certain period of time it is considered water under the bridge and you can't be arrested anymore? Fascinating--what is the typical time limit on this sort of thing? Can you get away with murder and other serious crimes through this method as well?

It's 30 years for murder, 10-20 for other felonies, depending on the type, 5 for misdemeanor. This then gets prolonged (between 5 and 10 years, depending on a type of crime) if during that period proceedings against a person are started.

Only crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide do not get treated that way. Also for crimes committed by the communist regime, this does not start running until communism ended.

I am surprised by your surprise, to be honest. We got this idea from Germany and France. In fact, I think Anglosaxon legal systems are quite unique in not having this kind of statute of limitations (at least in the West).

Are you a lawyer (I forgot). Judging from the surprise some of you guys often express at pretty universal civil law systems' institutions, it looks like you guys get no comparative legal studies at your law school at all. 

I'm not a lawyer.

We do have a statute of limitations, but there is a difference between starting a fresh trial, and having a resolution of guilt and fleeing before sentencing. Based on what you posted, I could gun down a kindergarten at 20, get convicted, escape before sentencing, live in Argentina until 50, and then return to Poland a free man without consequences. If that is really the case, I think our system is significantly superior.

Oh that's different. You asked about fleeing before trial/sentence (which is the case here with Polanski). Obviously, these rules do not apply to escaped convicts.

I thought he pleaded guilty--which effectively waived any purpose of a trial only leaving the sentencing. I couldn't imagine that would make any difference as to whether someone gets to be free after spending a certain period of time elluding the authorities.

[merithyn]

Oh that's different. You asked about fleeing before trial/sentence (which is the case here with Polanski). Obviously, these rules do not apply to escaped convicts.

Then your outrage is misplace. Polanski pled guilty and escaped prior to serving his term.

[alfred russel]

I guess USA doesn't have more recent and serious crime to care about, as they seems to have spent a lot of time and effort to snatch him up 

Oddly, Polanski had been several times to Switzerland after he fled the U.S., but never had trouble with the police before.

The past 12 months have seen the collapse of any independent Swiss resolve, and they are increasingly doing whatever we want. See: UBS.

[Razgovory]

Oh that's different. You asked about fleeing before trial/sentence (which is the case here with Polanski). Obviously, these rules do not apply to escaped convicts.

Then your outrage is misplace. Polanski pled guilty and escaped prior to serving his term.

I think he screwed up his Plea Bargain when he did that.

[Jaron]

Good.

Let no man think he can escape justice.

Mr. Polanski, you are NO Roman.

[Agelastus]

I always found it amusing how many American actors were quite happy to work with a man who was on the run from their own country's justice system.

As for jail-time, I don't think they ever got round to sentencing him 30 years ago, and don't you get time added on for running like he did. It would be ironic if he spent longer in jail because he ran than for the crime itself.

[CountDeMoney]

I always found it amusing how many American actors were quite happy to work with a man who was on the run from their own country's justice system.

I find it amusing how many American actors do blow.

[Agelastus]

I always found it amusing how many American actors were quite happy to work with a man who was on the run from their own country's justice system.

I find it amusing how many American actors do blow.

I must say, you have been in fine form with the crisp one liners recently.

By the way, any chance of finally getting that apology that you owe me relating to the Trivia thread on the old Languish board?

[Jaron]

I always found it amusing how many American actors were quite happy to work with a man who was on the run from their own country's justice system.

I find it amusing how many American actors do blow.

I must say, you have been in fine form with the crisp one liners recently.

By the way, any chance of finally getting that apology that you owe me relating to the Trivia thread on the old Languish board?

Get in line, buddy.

[CountDeMoney]

By the way, any chance of finally getting that apology that you owe me relating to the Trivia thread on the old Languish board?

No.  Even if I could remember that, it'd still be a fuck no.

You're lucky you're even posting here, what with that Timmay anime avatar.

[CountDeMoney]

Get in line, buddy.

Speaking of avatars, yours sucks as well.  Everyone knows the straight guy in it just hasn't had a chance to suck cock yet.

[Agelastus]

By the way, any chance of finally getting that apology that you owe me relating to the Trivia thread on the old Languish board?

No.  Even if I could remember that, it'd still be a fuck no.

As expected, but I thought I'd give it another shot.

You're lucky you're even posting here, what with that Timmay anime avatar.

"Timmay" anime avatar...I am not worthy in myself...

[Caliga]

No.  Even if I could remember that, it'd still be a fuck no.

You're lucky you're even posting here, what with that Timmay anime avatar.

He's referring to the time you posted a very obscure history trivia question and he responded in detail like ten seconds later, and you accused him of Googling it.

Agelastus, the thing is that this is not an uncommon accusation in the trivia thread... I accused Viking of it (half-jokingly) last week because of the way he answered a question.  I don't think he got very upset about it, just mildly annoyed.