Polanski's 'bias' allegation against LA court rebuffed as 'frivolous'

Washington, February 3 (ANI): The prosecutor attached with Director Roman Polanski's long-running rape case has rebuffed the filmmaker's appeal to have the entire Los Angeles Superior Court bench disqualified on the grounds of bias as "frivolous".

His lawyer Chad Hummel approached the California Second District Court of Appeal last week in an attempt to have the entire 600-strong Superior Court bench banned from hearing his client's case, and have a neutral judge appointed from outside the country.

However, Head Deputy District Attorney Lael Rubin termed the claims "patently frivolous" and based on "mere conclusions with no factual basis", when he filed a statement with the Court of Appeal on Friday.

"No person aware of all the facts, would entertain any doubt about the impartiality of Judge (Peter) Espinoza and certainly not the entire bench of the Los Angeles Superior Court," Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

Polanski was charged with having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

He pleaded guilty to the charge at the time, but fled America and has lived the last three decades in exile.

The filmmaker lives in France and cannot be extradited, but faces arrest if he sets foot back on U.S. soil. (ANI)