A Santa Monica judge has scheduled a trial date for the rape lawsuit against acclaimed director Roman Polanski. The trial is set to take place on August 4, 2025, in relation to allegations of rape that occurred in 1973. The plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, claims that Polanski sexually assaulted her when she was underage at his home in Benedict Canyon.

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff had first met Polanski at a party several months prior to the incident. Allegedly, Polanski invited her to dinner and then drove her to his house after giving her shots of tequila. The suit states that the plaintiff later passed out on his bed, and despite her pleas, Polanski proceeded to rape her before driving her home. The lawsuit further highlights that this encounter was the last time the plaintiff saw the director.

The plaintiff, known as Robin M. at the time of the incident, initially came forward in August 2017 during a press conference led by attorney Gloria Allred. She filed the lawsuit, referred to as "Jane Doe," in June 2023, invoking a California law that extends the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. Polanski was served with the lawsuit at his residence in Paris.

Polanski's legal representatives have firmly denied the allegations, with his attorney, Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, stating that Polanski "strenuously denies the allegations in the lawsuit and believes that the proper place to try this case is in the courts." Both sides anticipate engaging in written discovery and depositions over the coming months, including a deposition of Polanski himself. It is also possible that the case could be resolved before it reaches trial.

It is important to note that Roman Polanski has been a fugitive from the United States since 1978, when he fled on the eve of sentencing for the rape of a 13-year-old girl. His inability to return to the country has thwarted previous attempts to resolve the criminal case against him and to extradite him. Currently, Polanski, who is 90 years old, is facing a defamation trial in Paris brought by British actor Charlotte Lewis, who accuses him of sexually assaulting her when she was 16 years old in 1983.

While Polanski's presence at the civil trial is not required, he could appear via live video feed if necessary for testimony. Allred clarified that, as a civil lawsuit, Polanski is not obligated to return to the U.S.

The trial date announcement comes after Judge H. Jay Ford III set the date for August 4, 2025. It is expected that both sides will engage in legal proceedings leading up to the trial.

As this case moves forward, all eyes will be on the courtroom to see how justice is sought and whether it will bring peace to the plaintiff after decades of silence.