Judge dismisses Polanski bid to quash sex case

A Los Angeles judge on Thursday formally refused a bid by fugitive director Roman Polanski to dismiss a three-decade-old sex case against the film-maker after he failed to appear in court.

In a move that had been widely anticipated after lawyers for the director indicated he would not return to the United States for the hearing, Judge Peter Espinoza confirmed an earlier tentative ruling made in February.

Oscar-winner Polanski, famed for films such as "Rosemary's Baby" and "Chinatown," fled the United States in 1978 before being sentenced for his guilty plea to a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.

Lawyers for the 75-year-old director, who now lives in France, had sought to have the charges dismissed, claiming that the late judge who heard the case had improperly colluded with prosecutors.

The challenge was made after the allegation of misconduct emerged in a documentary released last year "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired."

Judge Espinoza said earlier this year that while he believed there had been "substantial misconduct" in the case, Polanski's attempts to dismiss the charges would not be heard as long as he remained a fugitive from justice.

Defense attorneys had confirmed in court papers filed earlier this week that Polanski had no intention of returning to the US.

The woman named as the victim in the 1970s case had joined defense lawyers in urging to dismiss the case against Polanski.