Roman Polanski's appeal rejected by California court

Photograph: Roberto Pfeil/AP A Californian appeal court has rejected Roman Polanski's latest attempt to end his decades-old sex case, a move that could set the stage for the fugitive film director's return to the US. The court's decision not to revisit Polanski's case came hours after it denied a request by Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer, to have the case dismissed. Swiss authorities have said they were awaiting the decision by the court on Polanski's appeal before deciding whether to extradite the Rosemary's Baby director. In his defence filings, his lawyers cited new evidence provided by the original prosecutor in the case who testified in a recent series of secret sessions that he tried to disqualify the original judge in 1977 on grounds of misconduct, but was ordered by his superiors not to do so. They also asked the appeals court to dismiss the case against Polanski, arguing recent changes to California's constitution gave her more rights as a victim to influence the case.