Ex-Prosecutor Admits He Lied in Polanski Movie

The high-end supporters of filmmaker Roman Polanski have been relying more on a documentary than documents in claiming his innocence, citing the film “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” as showing that Polanski was railroaded. The film features former prosecutor David F. Wells confirming improper communications by the judge. He has now admitted that it was a lie and he was grandstanding in the film.

Wells bragged in the film that he conferred with the trial judge and convinced him to renege on a plea bargain — hitting Polanski with more prison time. The HBO film played well in France where the government has worked to protect Polanski from deportation.

Wells now says, however, “I made that up to make the stuff look better.” Wells retired just two years ago, and explained “[t]hey interviewed me in the Malibu courthouse when I was still a DA, and I embellished a story.” He added “I’m a guy who cuts to the chase — I lied. It embarrasses the hell of me . . . I cost the DA’s office a lot of money and aggravation over this.”

Wells statement was used as the basis for a motion to dismiss the case.

For the full story, click here and here.